Police have issued an international red alert for the suspect in the murder of a lawyer in Northbrook after indications that the wanted man has fled the country, authorities announced Wednesday.
Interpol issued a red notice for the arrest of John Panaligan, 51, of Aurora, who is considered extremely dangerous, police said.
Panaligan is wanted on an arrest warrant for first-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old real estate attorney Jigar Patel, who was found strangled in his office Dec. 7.
In March, Northbrook police announced they were looking for Panaligan, five weeks after they had issued an arrest warrant for him.
Shortly before the slaying, Panaligan lost an appeal in a lawsuit a former business associate filed against him and a family member over a business they ran, Vital Wellness Home Health Inc., which has operated out of Naperville and Lisle. Investigators believe the lawsuit was a motive in the killing, as Patel had represented the party that sued Panaligan.
Investigators said they now believe that Panaligan fled the country by truck into Mexico in mid-January through El Paso, Texas,, and then might have flown to the Philippines. Authorities said he owns property in Tuy in the Philippines’ Batangas province and has immediate and extended family throughout the country. A man authorities identified as Panaligan’s brother-in-law, Jose Jecerell Cerrado, is the mayor of Tuy.
Investigators said they discovered that Panaligan has for years made multiple money transfers to foreign bank accounts, some in the Philippines, and may have access to large sums of money and help from his family. It also appears that his associates sent money transfers to Durango, Mexico, officials said.
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Northbrook police are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to find and arrest Panaligan and are offering a reward for the public’s help. Anyone with information is asked to call Northbrook police investigations at 847-664-4464 or 847-664-4457.
The Interpol red notice should flag Panaligan to border officials, making further travel difficult, according to the international police agency’s website. If arrested, he would likely face attempts to get a court order to transport him back to Cook County to stand trial.
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