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Norwood Park Stabbing Deaths Began as a Drug Robbery, Prosecutors Say

By Erin Meyer | September 8, 2014 1:42pm
 Orhan Cerimagic, 22, and Brittney Mitchell, 18, are charged in the stabbing deaths of Miran Cerimagic, 20, and Desmond Gunawardana, 35, of Norwood Park, Friday night.
Orhan Cerimagic, 22, and Brittney Mitchell, 18, are charged in the stabbing deaths of Miran Cerimagic, 20, and Desmond Gunawardana, 35, of Norwood Park, Friday night.
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Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A judge ordered a man and woman held without bail Monday, with both accused of staging a Northwest Side drug robbery that went bad, leaving the robbery victim and one of four robbers dead from stab wounds.

Charged are Brittney Mitchell, 18, and Orhan Cerimagic, 22.

Cerimagic's younger brother, Miran, also participated in the robbery, but was stabbed to death during a struggle with the victim, Desmond Gunawardana, 35, of Norwood Park.

On her Facebook page, Mitchell describes Miran Cerimagic as both her boyfriend and fiance.

Prosecutors laid out the allegations of the drug robbery gone bad during a court hearing Monday.

Erin Meyer details the prosecutors' case:

Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini alleged that the robbers, believing the Gunawardana had a large stash of drugs in his home, conspired to set him up and rob him. Mitchell was joined by the Cerimagic brothers and an unnamed co-conspirator, Santini said.

Mitchell, who knew Gunawardana, arranged to meet him at his house in the 5800 block of North Mobile Avenue Friday night. 

"Once inside the residence, Brittney Mitchell made sure the rear door ... was unlocked and then, as part of the preconceived plan, she texted the victim's address to Orhan Cerimagic," Santini alleged in court.

Orhan Cerimagic, who is accused of being the getaway driver, was waiting in the car with his brother, 20-year-old Miran Cerimagic, when he got the text, Santini said. He waited there while Miran and the unnamed accomplice walked to the victim's home armed with a gun and zip ties. 

They came in through the unlocked rear door and tried to subdue Gunawardana, Santini said. But the victim put up a fight, struggling with Miran.

Both men managed to get ahold of knives during the struggle, Santini said. Gunawardana was fatally stabbed. His attacker, Miran Cerimagic, was taken by his alleged cohorts to the Swedish Covenant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Santini said.

Mitchell told hospital workers and police that her boyfriend had been stabbed in a robbery, Santini said. But when police failed to find evidence of any such crime, Mitchell confessed, she said.

Neither Cerimagic, of the 6200 block North Hoyne Avenue, nor Mitchell, of the 4700 block of North Lamon Avenue, have any prior criminal history. Still, a Cook County judge ordered both held without bail on charges of murder and home invasion Monday. 

"They made some bad choices. No bail," Judge Donald Panarese Jr. said.

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