Illinois Man With Alleged History Of Threatening Parents Arrested For Their Murder

A 21-year-old Illinois man has allegedly confessed to killing his parents, one of whom is a professor, who have been missing since the weekend.

Jose Ramirez has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Susan Brill de Ramirez and Antonio Ramirez Barron, Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell said Monday. 

A relative called authorities late Sunday to the couple's Princeville home, where deputies found blood, Asbell said. That relative was likely Ramirez, who police believe called to report a burglary, according to a report by Peoria Public Radio. Asbell believes the couple, both 63, died early Friday morning. Police believe the burglary call could have been an attempt to throw off the cops, according to the Pekin Daily Times.

Matthew Roberts, 21, has also been arrested and charged with obstruction and concealment of a homicidal death in the killings. The relationship is between Ramirez and Roberts is unclear.

Asbell said Ramirez confessed to the killings and police are searching waterways in rural Henry County for the victims' bodies. Ramirez told police he threw their bodies from a bridge, according to the Pekin Daily Times. 

susan brill de ramirez antonio ramirez barron

This is not the first time that Ramirez has been accused of wanting to kill his family. In 2011, when he was just a teen, Bradley University police filed a report against him for allegedly writing on a school bathroom mirror that he wanted to kill his parents, according to the Pekin Daily Times.

His parents last reported to work Thursday at Bradley University in Peoria. His mother was an English professor and his father worked in the school's information technology department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Photo: Peoria County Sheriff’s Office]