Suspect in Waukegan woman’s fatal stabbing arrested at Union Station

A Waukegan man was charged with murdering a 55-year-old woman this week inside his apartment in the north suburb.

Ivan Rodriguez, 52, was placed into custody about 10 p.m. Monday at Union Station in Chicago after a Metra police officer spotted him, according to Waukegan police. He faces one count of first-degree murder and his bail was set at $2 million.

Rodriguez’s arrest took place 10 hours after a 55-year-old Waukegan woman was found stabbed to death in the suburb’s 800 block of Grand Avenue, police said. Officers conducting a well-being check on her came across his apartment, which was unlocked and had no one else inside.

The Lake County coroner’s office has identified her as Leesa Lovett, who lived in Waukegan. The preliminary results of an autopsy performed Tuesday indicated she died from sharp-force injuries, but toxicology testing was pending and the investigation into her death was ongoing.

The two were believed to be dating when she was killed, police said, and her murder was classified as “domestically related.”

Rodriguez’s next court date was scheduled for Dec. 20.