More than two weeks have passed since Lisa Koziol-Ellis was found dead in her home.
Neighbor Paul Johnson is now accused of killing her.
Elgin police said during a news conference Monday that Johnson was arrested Friday evening. He faces murder, home invasion and residential burglary charges.
Elgin police say Johnson used a screw driver to break into the 33-year-old woman's home. Allegedly, he had hoped to steal a DVD player, according to the charging affidavit, but when he was confronted by Ellis, the document states, he attacked her with the screw driver then grabbed a knife from inside and stabbed her until she was dead.
Authorities say the woman's husband, Dash, discovered her body at 2:30 a.m. March 2 when he came home from work.
The Kane County coroner's office later determined she had been stabbed multiple times.
"This has been a long 17 days for family and friends of Dash and Lisa. Also, a long 17 days for a scared neighborhood on Elgin's West Side. It's also been a long 17 days for members of Elgin Police Department who have worked this case nonstop from the moment we were notified," said Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda.
Johnson lived a few doors down from Koziol-Ellis on Garden Crescent Court. He is a life-long resident of Elgin with an extensive criminal history. He served 11 years in prison for an armed robbery in Cook County, and he was on parole for a residential burglary in Kane County at the time of the incident.
"The murder charges include an allegation that the crime was exceptionally cruel and heinous and indicative of wanton cruelty, which means the sentencing range could be extended beyond the 20-to-60-year range," Kane Co. State's Attorney Joe McMahon said.
Friends described Koziol-Ellis, who loved tattoos, as a warm-hearted jewelry artist who had just trademarked her nickname, "Foxy Goat," so she could build on her business. Friends also created a Facebook page called Justice for Lisa.
"Lastly to Dash, Lisa's family and friends, although our work is just beginning, we promise we will do our best to get justice for Lisa and for all of you," McMahon said during the news conference.
This was the year's first homicide in Elgin, which had two in 2012 and five in 2011.
Johnson was silent during his bond hearing Monday morning.
