In a case drawing outrage across Illinois, a man accused of concealing the body of a missing woman in a garbage bin has been released from custody due to provisions under the state’s controversial SAFE-T Act.
Deputy Chief Scott Chastain of the Waukegan Police Department joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Amy Jacobson and John Anthony to detail the chilling events surrounding the death of 37-year-old Megan Boss, whose body was discovered in the backyard of a Waukegan residence after she had been missing for over a month.
The suspect, 52-year-old José Luis Mendoza Gonzalez, reportedly confessed to police that he found Boss dead in his basement after an alleged drug overdose. Instead of calling 911, he waited several days and then moved her body into a large residential garbage bin behind the house he shared with several other residents. According to Chastain, Gonzalez acted alone in moving the body.
“He said she was using some kind of substance, and when he returned from checking on a leak, he found her unresponsive,” Chastain explained. “He claimed fear of going to jail led him to hide the body instead of calling for help.”
Chastain confirmed that Gonzalez initially made a suspicious comment during questioning that raised red flags, prompting a deeper investigation. When brought into the police station, Gonzalez confessed on video to concealing the death and moving the body.
Despite the confession and four felony charges—two counts of concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice—Gonzalez was released due to the SAFE-T Act, which deems Class 4 felonies non-detainable. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 8.
“I’d hope that he would get the maximum sentence possible,” Chastain said. “But under current law, these are probationable offenses.”
The autopsy revealed no signs of trauma or violence, and investigators are waiting on toxicology reports to determine if additional charges, such as drug-induced homicide, may be appropriate.
The case has ignited criticism of the SAFE-T Act’s limitations, particularly its prohibition on detaining individuals charged with certain low-level felonies. Jacobson expressed disbelief that someone who confessed to hiding a body could walk free, while Anthony, a former police officer, noted the frustration among law enforcement professionals.
Adding to the controversy, Chastain confirmed that due to the Illinois Trust Act, local law enforcement is barred from investigating immigration status. Rumors have circulated on social media that Gonzalez may be in the country illegally, but police have not been permitted to verify or act on that information.
“We’re mandated not to investigate immigration status,” Chastain said. “That’s not something we looked into.”
While the investigation remains open pending toxicology results, the family of Megan Boss is left devastated. Chastain described the family as close-knit and deeply affected by the month-long search and the gruesome discovery.
“She was in regular contact with her family. They knew something was wrong,” he said. “Now they’re living with the reality that their daughter was left in a garbage bin for weeks.”
As the state’s criminal justice reform continues to be debated, this case is certain to reignite questions about public safety, accountability, and how Illinois treats those charged with serious yet technically non-violent offenses.
“It’s frustrating,” Chastain admitted. “We’d have preferred he was held at least until initial findings came back. But the law doesn’t allow for that.”
Public backlash is expected to grow as details continue to emerge, with many calling for reevaluation of the SAFE-T Act and its real-world implications.