May 15 will be a somber day for the relatives and friends of Arturo Cantu Jr.
That will mark two years since Cantu, 39, was allegedly gunned down by his girlfriend’s new boyfriend in a parking lot outside his Bridgeview apartment.
And, just four days after that sad anniversary, his loved ones will once again be back at the Bridgeview Courthouse.
They will again sit in Room 101 for another in a seemingly endless string of status hearings for the two people charged with Cantu’s murder.
The accused spent about five minutes in court March 17.
Anthony Calderon, who wore a tan coverall issued by the Department of Corrections, is charged with first degree murder.
Agnieszka Rydzewski, wearing a dark blue jacket over her blue jail-issued coverall and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, is charged with solicitation to commit murder.
Associate Cook County Circuit Court Judge Margaret M Ogarek set their next court date for 9:30 a.m. May 19 after Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Naheda Zayyad said some “DNA evidence is still outstanding.”
After another status hearing came and went, emotions ran strong in the hallway outside the courtroom.
Family members met with Zayyad in the hallway. She reminded them to not expect a quick resolution and that they do not have to attend every hearing.
Cantu’s mother, Diana Pacheco, 58, would have none of that. She said she will attend every hearing regarding the murder of her son.
“I was hoping something would happen today,” Diana said. “I don’t understand why they’re giving (the accused) so much time.
“They know they’re guilty. You confess to a murder and you keep it dragging on and. … Me? I’m here all the time. I’ll never miss a (court) date for my son,” Diana said.
The state has offered deals of 35 years in prison for Calderon and 25 years for Rydzewski, she said.
“I thought today was going to be the day. They have the offer,” Diana, 58, said. “Now they’re waiting on some DNA (evidence).”
Jose said there is plenty of evidence to put the two away for a long time.
“When we went to the first hearing (after the two were arrested) on 26th Street, the judge there was reading a stack of text messages this big,” Jose said, holding his finger and thumb about two inches apart.
“There was really cold-blooded planning ‘If you don’t do it,’ ‘I already paid the money to do it’ and ‘I just need the job done’,” Jose, 56, said. “When the judge read those messages, there were chills running through me.”
He noted that not one message read in court that day hinted at their having a change of heart.
But the most damning comment of all was shared by the state at a status hearing in August 2024.
That’s when it was revealed that Rydzewski had told Calderon “time to shine, babe” in a text message the night before he allegedly gunned down Cantu around 5 a.m. in the 7300 block of 79th Street.
Diana has no doubts about their guilt.
“They planned it since February (2024), They were plotting his murder,” Diana said, referring to a $25,000 life insurance policy that Rydzewski had helped Cantu obtain.
The state in 2024 said Rydzewski was the beneficiary of the life insurance policy she had helped Cantu obtain in March of 2024.
“What is $25,000 going to do for you for the rest of your life? It’s not going to last,” Diana said.
Rydzewki and Calderon met when they worked together at a McDonald’s in Bridgeview and began having an affair, the state has said.
Another regular at each status hearing has been Delia Dominguez, Cantu’s aunt and Diana’s sister.
“It’s been two years, but it takes time. It’s not going to happen overnight. We all just have to stay strong and stay positive. That’s all we can do,” Dominguez said.
When Tuesday’s 9:30 a.m. session began, Ogarek walked in wearing a green robe to mark St. Patrick’s Day.
She said that her robe was “a nod to all the people who helped me through the years.”
Judges in Cook County formerly wore green robes all day on March 17, she said.
“We’re now not allowed to do that anymore, but welcome to Room 101 and happy St. Patrick’s Day.” Ogarek said.
She then excused herself and returned wearing the black robe judges usually wear.