Feb. 24--Chicago police officers were taking Thadeus Ridley to get medical attention after a fight inside his apartment, officials said Saturday, when he uttered three unexpected words: "I murdered someone."
The "someone" Ridley was referring to were his former girlfriend Curtria Duncan, 24, and her mother Cherie Adams, 43, police said. Both women had been found stabbed to death inside their burning East Chatham neighborhood apartment last Wednesday.
Ridley, of the 2300 block of East 70th Street in Chicago, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated arson after he allegedly set fire to the apartment in an attempt to conceal the murders, police Supt. Garry McCarthy said during a press conference held in a Gresham neighborhood police district station.
Ridley allegedly stabbed Adams more than 60 times in her torso and head, struck her and tried to rip out her vocal cords, according to Cook County court records. He also allegedly stabbed Duncan in her neck twice, smothered her face and then put her body in the bathtub.
Afterwards, Ridley allegedly set fire to the apartment on the 8100 block of South Maryland Avenue, then hopped onto a bus and went home, the court documents say.
Early Friday, Chicago firefighters and police officers responded to a disturbance call at Ridley's South Shore neighborhood apartment, McCarthy said.
Ridley slammed the door in the officer's faces as they approached, Officer Alexander Starks Jr. said, recalling hearing heavy metal music blaring inside the home.
The officers forced the door open and found that Ridley apparently had been in a physical fight with another man, Starks said. Ridley had also apparently set fire to his couch, McCarthy said.
Starks said he and his partner, Dale Caridine Jr., were taking Ridley to get medical treatment when he confessed to the murders.
Ridley was ordered held without bond Saturday. His next court date is scheduled for Monday.
On hearing the news about the charges from a Tribune reporter, Duncan's sister, Rochelle Pinex, 28, of Harvey, exclaimed: "Oh my God."
"I'm still going through what I'm going through," said Pinex of her grief. "But this gives me a little relief knowing that they have somebody in custody."
"I just want justice to be served for my mother and my sister."
Pinex was reached by telephone as she was making funeral arrangements for her sister and stepmother.
Pinex said the family was planning to have the services on Feb. 28, her stepmother's birthday.
Tribune reporter Rosemary Regina Sobol contributed.
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