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Man, 49, Charged in Domestic Murder by Strangulation, Officials Say

By Bettina Chang | July 1, 2015 10:48pm
 James E. Thomas, 49, was charged with first degree murder in the slaying of Vanessa Taylor, 49.
James E. Thomas, 49, was charged with first degree murder in the slaying of Vanessa Taylor, 49.
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Chicago Police

CHICAGO — A Garfield Park man has been charged with first degree murder for strangling to death Vanessa Taylor, 49, in their home, officials said.

Officers were dispatched to the third-floor apartment on the 4300 block of West Fournoy Street in Garfield Park for a "check the well being" call around 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to police.

Officers found Taylor, who was unresponsive, and James E. Thomas, armed with a knife, police said in a statement Wednesday.

Taylor and Thomas both lived at the address and police said it was a domestic-related incident.

Thomas was taken into custody at that time, police said, and he is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of felony aggravated assault of a peace officer. He is expected to appear in court Thursday.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's autopsy revealed Taylor died of asphyxiation by "ligature strangulation."

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