BOLINGBROOK, IL — A 35-year-old man who was the victim of an arson that left him severely burned in Bolingbrook has died, Bolingbrook Police confirmed to Patch.
The man, who has been identified as Kevin Wilson, 35, of Bolingbrook, succumbed to his injuries at an area hospital on Monday, police said.
“Our Investigations Division is working closely with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding additional or upgraded charges,” police said. “Our condolences go out to Mr. Wilson’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
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Turdor Ereba, 21, of Bolingbrook, is already facing multiple felonies from the arson incident, after police say he used bedding to intentionally set a fire that caused Wilson’s injuries.
Ereba has already been charged with aggravated battery with a caustic substance, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated arson and arson.
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According to police, officers found an active fire near the rear of the Levy Senior Center at 1:13 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were called to the scene and extinguished the blaze as officials determined the fire was not naturally occurring and had been fueled by personal bedding.
A short time later, firefighters encountered Wilson, who had severe burns, at Bolingbrook Fire Station 2. He was taken to an area hospital. Before he was placed in a medically induced coma, prosecutors said Wilson was able to identify his attacker as Ereba. Officials said he recognized Ereba from seeing him at a local church, and described him as wearing a black hoodie and black sweatpants with a white stripe.
Court documents state that when officers arrested Ereba at his home, they collected his clothing and found that his boots had an odor of gasoline, and he had sweatpants with white piping that matched Wilson’s description. One of Ereba’s relative also told police he had left the home around midnight wearing black boots and similar clothing, according to prosecutors.
According to court documents filed in Will County, Wilson had also reported an attempted arson by Ereba on July 23. Prosecutors said Wilson, who was homeless, told police he was sleeping behind the senior center when he woke up to find a man he identified as Ereba standing over him and pouring gasoline on his bedding.
In that incident, Ereba ran from the scene when Wilson woke up, according to the complaint.
Jail and court records also show that Ereba was also arrested on charges of arson and criminal damage to property in late May tied to incidents at Little Caesars, 293 S. Bolingbrook Drive.
Initially, police said there was a report of damage to property and a broken window at Little Caesars on May 2. Bolingbrook police told Patch that weeks later, a remote security company contacted officials twice the morning of May 21 — at 1:05 a.m. and 5:42 a.m. — for reports of arson at Little Caesars. The first time, dispatch referenced a person breaking a window at the pizza restaurant and setting an item on fire. Hours later, BPD responded again to Little Caesars for a report of another arson and additional fire damage.
Court documents claim surveillance cameras also caught someone believed to be Ereba pouring liquid from two small bottles into the restaurant, through a broken window, and igniting it, causing a short-lived fire.
The next day, May 22, at 1:50 a.m., BPD responded to the Little Caesars for a report of a newly damaged window. Hours later, at 6:10 a.m., police said officers spotted Ereba walking at a gas station near Little Caesars, and he was identified as a suspect. He was taken into custody later that day.
Prosecutors said Ereba was a former employee and had worked for Little Caesars from May 2023 to March or April 2024, and had confronted a former manager in the parking lot of the restaurant prior to the reports of arson.
According to court records, prosecutors were granted a motion on July 26 to file a petition to revoke pretrial release in that case. A hearing on the petition to revoke pretrial release was scheduled. Court records show Ereba’s next court date is Aug. 16.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the judge was notified that charges against Ereba are likely to be upgraded after Wilson’s death.
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