Less than 24 hours after two men who allegedly had been drinking and drag racing were charged with reckless homicide in the deaths of a Robbins couple, a church in the village held a vigil and fundraiser Sunday to help their children — three of whom also were hurt in the crash — and a deacon implored those gathered to forgive the drivers.
Douglas McGrew, 25, of Robbins, and Craig Stevenson, 41, of Lynwood, were charged with reckless homicide in the Thursday night crash, and McGrew also was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Cook County Circuit Judge Peggy Chiampas on Sunday set bail at $1 million for Stevenson in a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building and ordered him not to drive. Stevenson admitted to drinking a few beers and some NyQuil before the crash, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Shawn Abraham.
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McGrew’s blood-alcohol level was .121, according to Abraham, about 11/2 times the legal limit. McGrew remained hospitalized Sunday, and his bond hearing is to be scheduled at a later date, according to the sheriff’s office.
An investigation by the sheriff’s police, which was requested by the Robbins Police Department, found that at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, McGrew, driving a black 2001 Buick Regal, and Stevenson, driving a gray 2005 Nissan Altima, were racing and speeding northbound on Central Park Avenue when both ran a stop sign at 137th Street and crashed into a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, police said.
Cherise Davis-Jones, 43, of Robbins, who was driving the minivan, and her husband Less Jones, 59, a passenger in the front seat, were killed. Three children — two boys ages 4 and 7 and an 8-year-old girl, who were passengers in the van — remained hospitalized Sunday, but their conditions had stabilized, according to the sheriff’s office.
The couple’s families were at Sunday’s gathering at St. John Community Church in Robbins, both for the fundraiser and to begin making funeral arrangements, Pastor Calvin Watkins said.
Carolyn Tarochione, Less Jones’ cousin, saw the fundraiser as an uplifting moment during a dark time for the families. She was grateful for members of the community who donated to the fund for the children.
“For them to come out and show their support is a blessing,” said Tarochione, 52, of Robbins.
Davis-Jones’ mother, Barbara Campbell, 60, also of Robbins, said that while the event was a blessing, she was “taking it one day at a time.”
Pastor A.D. Williams, of Robbins Apostolic Temple, where the couple went to church, said he spent the day inside Saturday thinking about the couple.
“Those were my babies,” Williams said. “I had to fight back some tears today.”
St. John Community Church Deacon Rogers Jones said the church is not only worried about the families but also Stevenson and McGrew. He believes the men did not wake up Thursday morning wanting to hurt anyone.
“They live in the same community,” said Jones, who led the fundraiser service. “When you forgive somebody, you forgive yourself. I know it’s hard. But you have to forgive.”
Family members said Davis-Jones and Jones had been married for more than 10 years. Cherise was a stay-at home mom, while Less, who recently had a pacemaker installed, frequented a cousin’s garage to help with mechanical work.
A figure of how much was raised for the couple’s children wasn’t immediately available Sunday night. The family is asking for donations to the W.W. Holt Funeral Home, 175 W. 159th St., Harvey.
Robbins police Chief Mitchell Davis said in a statement the village took solace in knowing the drivers allegedly responsible for the crash had been arrested.
“Robbins is more than a village — we are an extended family,” he said in the statement. “And we are grieving in solidarity with Cherise and Less’ beautiful children, who thankfully survived this horrific ordeal. We take solace in the fact that the alleged perpetrators of this unthinkable crime will be held accountable for the devastation they’ve incurred on our community.”
Stevenson is next due in court Sept. 1 at the Markham courthouse, according to court records.
A male passenger in McGrew’s car and a male passenger in Stevenson’s car also were hospitalized, officials said. Another passenger in Stevenson’s car declined medical treatment.
Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat contributed.