An Englewood man has been charged by prosecutors with the murder of a woman in an abandoned house where she and her teenage son were residing. The suspect, Antwon Chambers, allegedly killed Terryn Winters, 34, whom he had met a few weeks prior to the incident. Chambers, 32, had been living in an Englewood halfway house near Winters and her son after serving a 12-year prison sentence for criminal sexual assault. He was paroled in March and is listed as a sex offender in the Illinois State Police registry.
Winters’ son, Daryn Stanton, age 14, was the one who alerted authorities on December 8 when he couldn’t locate his mother in their residence on South Normal Boulevard. Winters was discovered deceased in the attic of the house the following day.
During Chambers’ initial court appearance at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, murder charges were read out as Winters’ family supported Daryn. Evidence found at the scene included a pipe wrench near Winters’ body, a gray hat, and blood splatter in her bedroom. Surveillance footage showed Chambers entering the house with Winters on the morning of the incident and leaving alone later on without the hat.
Furthermore, Winters’ phone was found in a nearby alley a couple of days after her death, containing photos of her body, a cash transfer to Chambers, and missing contact details for Chambers. Winters’ son, Daryn, received a new phone with a purple case, reminiscent of his mother’s, after Chambers’ arrest.
Daryn described his mother as kind, vibrant, and loving colorful hair and makeup. The duo had been living in the abandoned house for about three months following Winters losing her job. Plans were in motion for them to secure an apartment in Indiana. Winters’ older sister had expressed concerns about their safety, urging them to stay with her in Moline.
Daryn, who aspires to become a veterinarian, expressed a desire to leave Chicago and create new memories away from the tragic events his family had endured.
“Suppress the good memories,” echoed in the minds of those present as Judge Shauna Boliker delivered her ruling on Sunday. The courtroom fell silent as Chambers was ordered to be held pending trial, with the judge citing the “brutality of the circumstances” and the swift progression from the time when Winters and Chambers first crossed paths to her tragic demise. The next court appearance was set for Tuesday, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the legal proceedings yet to come.
Daryn, his emotions concealed beneath the hood he pulled up as he exited bond court, navigated through the sea of whispers and glances. His posture was one of isolation, with his head bowed down, disconnected from the quiet conversations his family engaged in with a victim witness. Amidst the heavy atmosphere, a tender moment unfolded as his aunt extended her arm around him in a gesture of support, acknowledging the weight of the situation. Despite the comforting touch, Daryn chose to keep his hood up, shielding himself from the prying eyes and judgmental gazes that surrounded him.
The air in the courtroom was heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts and emotions that lingered like a dark cloud over the proceedings. Each person present was a character in this unfolding drama, playing their part in a narrative that seemed to be scripted by forces beyond their control. The tension in the room was palpable, a silent undercurrent that ran beneath the surface of polite exchanges and formalities.
As the case unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the past held sway over the present, casting a long shadow over the lives of those involved. Memories, both good and bad, intertwined in a complex tapestry that seemed impossible to unravel. The judge’s words reverberated in the minds of all those present, a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation at hand.
Despite the gravity of the circumstances, there was a sense of resilience in the faces of those gathered in the courtroom. Each individual carried their own burden, their own set of emotions and experiences that shaped their response to the unfolding events. It was a mosaic of human emotion, a tableau of grief, anger, and uncertainty that painted a vivid picture of the complexities of the human condition.
In the midst of this emotional storm, Daryn stood as a solitary figure, his hooded figure a symbol of both defiance and vulnerability. His choice to shield himself from the prying eyes of the world spoke volumes about the inner turmoil he must have been experiencing. It was a gesture of self-preservation, a way to protect himself from the harsh realities of the outside world.
The courtroom, with its imposing walls and somber decor, became a stage for this human drama, a backdrop against which the complexities of life played out in stark relief. Each individual present was a player in this unfolding tragedy, their actions and reactions shaping the narrative in ways both seen and unseen.
As the day drew to a close and the courtroom emptied out, the echoes of the judge’s words linger.
