A convicted sex offender from Illinois has been apprehended for the alleged kidnapping and strangulation of a 10-year-old girl who was playing outside with her younger sister. Antonio Monroe, 44, from Blue Island, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping, and aggravated battery in the tragic killing of Destiny Huggins in Rockford on Saturday. The Rockford Mayor, Tom McNamara, described the case as a “real-life nightmare with a real-life monster” during a press conference on Sunday.
Destiny and her 6-year-old sister were playing together outdoors when Monroe reportedly grabbed both girls and fled the scene. The younger sister managed to escape and ran home to inform their mother, who immediately contacted the police. Approximately 40 minutes later, a man alerted the authorities after discovering the lifeless body of a girl outside a residence on 9th Ave. Despite the officers’ attempts to revive Destiny with CPR, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd expressed her deep sorrow, stating that no parent should ever have to receive the devastating news that their child has been murdered.
A police K9 dog tracked Monroe to a location a few blocks away from the crime scene, leading to his arrest after a brief struggle. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for an unrelated issue and will be booked into the Winnebago County Jail once discharged. Police revealed that Monroe had also strangled Destiny’s younger sister before she managed to escape. The 6-year-old was treated for her injuries and later released.
Monroe is a registered sex offender with a previous conviction for criminal sexual assault involving a 19-year-old victim in Peoria, Illinois. It remains unclear why he was in Rockford on the day of the incident, as it is located 100 miles northwest of his residence in Blue Island.
The Rockford community has been left in shock and mourning following the tragic loss of Destiny.The girl’s devastated mother shared that her daughter had a passion for basketball and aspired to become a nurse in the future.