Nearly 30 years after two Marine brothers were tragically gunned down in Cicero, Illinois, authorities have finally made an arrest in the case that haunted their family and community for decades.
Daniel Flores, 49, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the 1995 deaths of John Fields, 22, and Michael Fields, 19, officials announced this week. The brothers were discovered shot on April 12, 1995, near 50th Court in Cicero, marking the beginning of a case that would remain unsolved for nearly three decades.
According to Cicero Police Superintendent Thomas Boyle, John had just completed his service in the United States Marine Corps. Michael, following in his older brother’s footsteps, was still actively serving and had returned home on furlough after a tour in Japan.
The brutal slayings shocked the community and devastated the Fields family. But despite efforts from law enforcement, leads ran dry, and the investigation went cold for years.
That changed in 2013, when investigators received a breakthrough tip from a witness who named Flores as a potential suspect. Although a warrant for Flores’ arrest was issued in 2016, it wasn’t until 2023 that authorities located and captured him in Mexico.
Flores reportedly resisted extradition but was successfully returned to Illinois on April 9, where he now faces justice for the alleged crimes.
While a motive has not yet been revealed, authorities remain committed to uncovering the full truth.
“I want to express my gratitude to the dedicated detectives and everyone else involved in this case who never gave up,” Boyle said, emphasizing the persistence of law enforcement over the years.
This long-awaited arrest brings a glimmer of hope and potential closure to a family and town that has waited nearly three decades for answers.
