A judge on Friday detained a Roseland man accused of killing his 88-year-old mother and hiding her body, saying he poses a danger to witnesses, the community and his family.
Kevan Works, 66, is charged with one count each of first-degree murder and concealing a homicidal death. On April 7 police discovered the decomposing body of Daniest Graves, Works’ mother, rolled in a rug and garage bags secured with duct tape, according to prosecutors.
Graves’ body was in a basement room hidden behind a bookcase in the house in the 10700 block of South Lafayette Avenue where the two were living.
State’s attorneys said Graves’ body had a circular open wound to the head. She had 17 wounds — some of them knife wounds — to her body and defensive wounds, prosecutors said. A knife with blood on it was recovered from the house, as well as a hammer and brass knuckles.
“If you could do this to your mother … what would you do to your family?” Judge Rivanda B. Doss said, adding that Works poses a threat to “anybody else on the street” and ordering him held pending trial.
Graves was last seen the afternoon of March 26 shopping with her sister, attorneys said. They allege that she must have returned home because some of the items she bought were found there.
The sister became worried the next day when she didn’t receive the usual “good morning” and text with a prayer from Graves, prosecutors said. Graves also didn’t show up to work that day.
Graves’ sister went to the house, but Works wouldn’t let her inside, according to prosecutors. She called the police for a wellness check.
Officers found Graves’ phone in her bedroom after firefighters forced entry to the room, authorities said. A police report obtained by the Tribune indicated police found nothing out of the ordinary in the room and that Works told officers he had reported his mother missing earlier.
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Police located Graves’ car in a parking lot on the West Side on March 30. Prosecutors alleged Works lent it to a woman in exchange for drugs on March 27.
On April 7, police returned to the home to execute a search warrant, according to a second police report. In addition to the body, police found air freshener and bleach. They also recovered her wallet and purse from a trash can. The floor of Graves’ bedroom appeared to have dried blood and bleach on it, authorities said.
Footage from neighbors’ security cameras allegedly shows that Graves never left the home after returning from the shopping trip. No one besides Works and a woman who left in Graves’ car entered or exited the home.
Prosecutors said police found Graves’ jewelry boxes were emptied, and the jewelry was laid out, recently cleaned. Doss said Graves’ sister told police that Graves kept her jewelry locked in the attic because Works had previously stolen from her.
“This was a crime committed, it seems like, for some type of money gain,” Doss said.
Works has a record of check forgery, possession of a controlled substance, retail theft and burglary, according to Doss. His record also shows a juvenile case of first-degree murder.
Marissa Claxon, an assistant public defender, said Works is a graduate of a South Shore high school and last worked as a sous chef at a restaurant. She described him as a churchgoer who takes medication for anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Claxon said Works, who has experienced homelessness, started a nonprofit in 2012 dedicated to feeding the homeless community.
Clyde McLemore sat in the courtroom for the pretrial release hearing of his nonbiological brother. McLemore said Graves was his foster mom, and the only mother figure he had after his biological mom died. He sat with his head in his hands, crying.
As police escorted Works out of the courtroom, McLemore jumped to his feet.
“Kevin, look at me!” he shouted before leaving the room in tears.
In an interview, McLemore said he wanted to say to Works, “Look at me and tell me why.” He disputed that Works ever was homeless.
McLemore described Graves as a “beautiful soul.” He said she prayed every morning at 4 a.m. and drove to Waukegan for his birthday party even at age 88. Graves has three biological children, McLemore said.
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Now, McLemore said he’s at a loss for what to do as Works stands trial for their mother’s murder.
“I love him like he was my blood brother,” McLemore said.
Works is scheduled to next appear in court April 29.