Prosecutors say a 24-year-old Chicago man is facing serious charges after a woman was found bludgeoned to death inside her West Side apartment in what authorities describe as a brutal hammer attack. Davonta F. Curtis, 31, was discovered dead in her home in the 3100 block of West Madison Street, and the Cook County medical examiner later ruled her death a homicide. The suspect, identified in court records as Deandre Bell, appeared before a judge who ordered him held in custody, according to prosecutors.
According to court filings cited by WGN‑TV, Bell is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Prosecutors allege he struck Curtis multiple times with a hammer inside her apartment last Sunday, then left with her keys and vehicle. Investigators say Bell was later stopped while driving her car. Police also reported finding a tool belt containing a hammer with blood on the claw, which was sent to a crime lab for testing.
The Cook County medical examiner determined that Curtis died from multiple blunt-force injuries and ruled the case a homicide. Police initially found her unresponsive inside the unit, the Chicago Sun‑Times reported. Records list Curtis as a resident of the 2600 block of South Kedvale Avenue.
Evidence and Surveillance
Prosecutors say surveillance footage described in court documents shows Bell leaving Curtis’s apartment alone at about 1 a.m., according to WGN‑TV. Investigators also say a search of his phone turned up internet queries that included phrases such as “how to kill someone with a hammer.”
Court records state that Curtis’s sister discovered the body, finding her naked and partially covered by a bedsheet. Detectives collected additional physical evidence from the scene, and police say they are still working through forensic testing as lab results come back.
Court Hearing and Legal Stakes
Bell is charged with first-degree murder, a count that carries the harshest penalties under Illinois law, including the possibility of a lengthy prison term up to natural life, according to the Illinois Criminal Code. Prosecutors will have to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Bell’s actions caused Curtis’s death as the case advances through Cook County’s felony courts. For now, he remains detained while the state continues building its case and awaits pending lab work.
What Comes Next
The case is expected to move through a series of pretrial hearings as prosecutors and defense attorneys review evidence and line up witnesses. Bell remains in custody while investigators continue following up on leads, processing forensic results and interviewing those connected to the case. Chicago police are still asking anyone with information to contact detectives as the homicide investigation continues.
