On Christmas Eve in 2013, 18-year-old Alexis Valdez was simmering with anger.

Six months earlier, he had moved into his aunt’s basement apartment on North Kildare Avenue in Chicago, sharing the home with her and her boyfriend, 41-year-old Sylvester Diaz-Hernandez.

The arrangement came with clear expectations: Alexis was to go to school, work, and contribute to household expenses. But Alexis had quickly abandoned these responsibilities, igniting tensions that escalated into frequent arguments.

By December, his aunt and Sylvester had reached their limit, and they told Alexis he had to move out. This ultimatum sent him into a rage.

His fury boiled over on Christmas Eve, leading him to commit an unspeakable act of violence. What Alexis did that night would not only shock his family but also leave a community horrified and searching for answers.

In his twisted mind, he believed his actions would serve as the ultimate message — a horrific “present” for his aunt to discover on Christmas Day.