CAPTION: Gary M. Bennett (left) of Denver, CO, is charged with first-degree murder and other charges. Joan Sebastian Vado-Bonilla of West Dundee (right) is charged with concealment of a homicidal death. CREDIT: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

A former Algonquin man who now lives in Denver has been charged with robbing and murdering a Bartlett man after leaving a party in unincorporated West Dundee a year ago.

Gary M. Bennett, 36, of the 8500 block of East Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO, and formerly of Millbrook Court, Algonquin, is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, a Class X felony, and concealing a homicide, a Class 3 felony, in the Aug. 10, 2014, homicide of 36-year-old Keith K. Crawford of Bartlett.

In addition, Joan Sebastian Vado-Bonilla, 25, formerly of the 100 block of Village Creek Drive, Lake in the Hills, and currently of West Dundee, is charged with concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony.

Police and prosecutors allege that the evening of Aug. 9, 2014, Crawford left his Bartlett home after he told family he was headed to a party in unincorporated West Dundee. Crawford was last seen early Aug. 10, 2014, as he was leaving the party. Family members called Bartlett police Aug. 11, 2014, to report that Crawford never returned home.

Bennett was taken into custody Aug. 20, 2015, in Denver, CO, by members of the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force with assistance from the Denver Police Department. A warrant was issued and his bail was set at $5 million. At this time, Bennett is in custody in Denver and awaits extradition to Kane County.

Vado-Bonilla was taken into custody Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in West Dundee by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force. His bail is set at $500,000. He is scheduled to appear in Kane County bond court Friday afternoon.

Keith K. Crawford of Bartlett. CREDIT: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office

“Thanks to West Dundee Chief of Police Andy Wieteska and his team, the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Denver Police Department and the Bartlett Police Department for their collaborative work and cooperation in investigating this case,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “I send my condolences to Mr. Crawford’s family. I know they were hoping he would be found alive. I wish we had better news for them.”

West Dundee Chief Andy Wieteska said he is grateful that to get some answers for Keith Crawford’s family.

“They have been waiting a long time,” he said. “We have put thousands of man hours into what has been an exhaustive investigation, and we continue to work on this case.”

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the West Dundee Police Department at (847) 551-3810, or email stopcrime@wdundee.org. Anyone who wishes to anonymously report information about the crime may call (847) 586-5600.

The charges against Bennett and Vado-Bonilla are not proof of guilt. They are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release