In Rich Township, Illinois, a man has been arrested for burglarizing a home thanks to DNA evidence found on a bottle of wine at the scene. Jeremiah Phillips, 35, has been charged with residential burglary, burglary, and criminal damage to property following an incident on Blackstone Avenue in unincorporated Rich Township on Sept. 6, 2023.
According to officials from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Phillips allegedly broke into the home, ransacked it, and later returned to damage security system equipment. Security camera footage showed Phillips entering a detached garage, drinking from a bottle of wine found in the fridge, and then attempting to cover up the cameras with spray paint.
The bottle with DNA evidence was recovered, analyzed by the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory, and linked to Jeremiah Phillips through a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) report in February. Phillips was taken into custody, charged, and appeared in court where he was released pending trial.
