The Village of Villa Park has completed the initial flood damage pickup response from residential homes. Residents that have not yet put flood damage out will need to call the Public Works Department at (630) 834-8505 to arrange for a special pickup. The Village will only pick up flood damage not an entire wall or a gutted basement. Items must have come in contact with flood water or from sewage backup.

Items removed by a contractor should be hauled by the contractor. Residents can contract with a waste hauler for roll off containers. For do it yourself projects three containers of construction debris can be put out on your normal garbage day, but each container must weigh less than fifty (50) pounds.

Villa Park Chief of Police John Heidelmeier announces the arrest of Eric A Gilford, 35 years of age, who was wanted for the murder of his wife and unborn child.

On May 26th 2010 Villa Park Police officers responded to 329 N Ardmore in Villa Park for a call of a person stabbed. Upon arrival officers discovered the victim, Kristine R Gilford, 35 years of age, with multiple stab wounds to her body. Kristine was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m.

Kristine's husband, Eric A Gilford was quickly identified as a suspect. Eric Gilford's vehicle was recovered the next day (05/27/2010) in Fargo, North Dakota. An arrest warrant was issued for Eric Gilford and the United States Marshal's Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force was requested for assistance in apprehending Eric Gilford.

The US Marshals Task Force was able to track Eric Gilford to the Seattle Washington area where they learned he was staying at a homeless shelter. The Marshals then tracked Eric Gilford to a homeless shelter in Teton County, Jackson Wyoming where he was located and taken into custody without incident with the assistance of the Teton County Sheriffs Office.

Eric Gilford is currently being held at the Jackson County Jail pending extradition proceedings.

Eric Gilford has been charged with First Degree Murder and Intentional Homicide of an Unborn Child. First Degree Murder carries a minimum sentence of 20-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office will conduct further investigation to determine whether or not the defendant would be exposed to harsher penalties.

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trail in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

John Heidelmeier, Chief of Police