Community Rallies to Help Family of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez

A mother and daughter, charged with murder, after police find the body of 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez in a garbage can in their backyard.It took three weeks for CPD to find the body of the mother. Chicago Police say a tip lead them to the home.Now Ochoa-Lopez’s family wants to take action. They are asking the Cook County State's Attorney for no bond for all three people charged with the disappearance and death of their loved one“Three individuals have been charged in the brutal murder of missing 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez,” says Superintendent Eddie Johnson. 46-year-old Clarisa Figueroa and her daughter, 24-year-old Desiree Figueroa are both charged with murder. Clarisa called first responders to 4100 West 77th place, because she said she gave birth to a baby who wasn't breathing. After investigation and DNA testing it was proven the baby was cut out of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez's womb. Desiree admitted to police she helped her mother strangle Ochoa-Lopez and remove the unborn child. 40-year-old Piotr Bobak, Clarisa's boyfriend, is being charged with concealment of the homicide.Johnson says detectives were following protocol and working to locate the missing mother, but it wasn't until police got a tip from a friend that they started looking into a Facebook chat group the 19-year-old was part of. Johnson says on May 7th there was a break in the case. Police found out Ochoa-Lopez had been in contact with Clarisa and met up with her to receive free baby items, the same day she went missing.A search warrant was issued on May 14th, that's when police found the remains of Ochoa-Lopez inside a hidden trash can. Police say she had been strangled with a cable. “Words cannot express how disgusting and thoroughly disturbing these allegation are,” says Johnson. “I’d like to offer prayers to the family, who instead of celebrating the birth of a her child are mourning her loss, while at the same time caring for a baby in grave condition.”The community and the nation are taken aback by the developments of this story. Elizabeth Morales, a business owner and mother in Pilsen, says although she didn’t know Ochoa-Lopez it was still shocking because when she left work, Ochoa-Lopez’s picture was posted on a pole. Morales is setting up a safe space for young mothers in the community at her creative space location called Del Dia on 18th Street. For future events click here. Police say Clarisa and Marlen had met up in the past, prior to her disappearance. Police have not specified a motive. The family says the baby is on life support with no brain activity.

05/17/19 10:08AM