Missing woman's nearly decapitated body found in duffle bag in convicted sex offender's apartment, prosecutors say
CHICAGO (CBS) – A woman who had been missing for three days was found dead, stuffed inside a duffle bag, her head nearly severed, inside the apartment of a registered sex offender now charged with concealing her death, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Genesis Silva, 34, has been charged with a felony count of concealment of the homicidal death of Brittany Battaglia, 33. He's also charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and obstructing an officer. He has not been charged with her murder as of Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors said the two had been dating since the spring of 2022.
Battaglia had been missing since last Friday. Her body was found Monday evening inside Silva's home in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue.
At Silva's bond hearing on Thursday, prosecutors said around 6:30 p.m. Friday, Battaglia told her roommate she was going to Silva's apartment about a block away from where she and her roommate lived, and then to a party, but she never arrived at the party.
After the roommate tried and failed to contact Battaglia over the next couple days, she reached out to Battaglia's brother, who also was not able to reach her.
Police went to Silva's apartment on Monday, and saw him leaving and getting into his car with a backpack. Officers followed him and pulled him over to question him, then brought him back to his apartment, where they saw a large duffle bag in his bedroom.
Officers told Silva to stay outside, and secured the apartment as a crime scene, and when Silva tried to sneak back in through the rear stairwell, he was detained. After obtaining a search warrant, police found Battaglia inside the duffle bag, prosecutors said. She had suffered multiple cuts, and her head was nearly severed.
At the time, Silva was carrying two cell phones, two small pocket knives, and an ice pick. In his kitchen, police found a tarp containing two garbage bags, containing shoes, a bucket, paint suit, gloves, bleach, and a Swiffer. The items had no visible blood, but forensic testing revealed blood on several of the items.
Also in the bags were three crumpled pieces of paper listing cleaning supplies and chemicals, paint suits and boots, and a wash sprayer. On one piece of paper was written "can you ask avg. time until smell etc."
In Silva's backpack, police found a machete, which tested positive for traces of blood. A second machete was found in his car. DNA tests are pending on the machetes and other items found in the apartment.
Silva is a registered sex offender, according to prosecutors and court documents.
He had been previously charged with attempted murder and sexual abuse in 2009. Prosecutors said he and his wife at the time got into an argument at a party, then returned home, where he choked her and repeatedly said, "why don't you just die?" He then took out a switchblade, forced her onto their bed, and raped her.
Silva pleaded guilty to criminal sexual abuse, and was sentenced to 2 years of probation, according to court records.
He has been ordered held without bail in connection to Battaglia's death, and is due back in court on June 20.