Abbotsford murder victims tied

The body found in a burned-out car in an Abbotsford berry field last week is the boyfriend of the young woman found murdered in the basement suite of a westside home on Sunday.

The Abbotsford News has learned the victim in the charred sedan discovered off Gladwin Road is Bobby Digeorgio, 24, while the young woman found dead at a home in the 31000 block of McConachie Place is 23-year-old Jessica Illes.

The couple are the latest victims of a spiral of violence in the city which saw three people killed within the last week.

Cpl. Dale Carr, spokesman for the the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), confirmed the two deaths were linked, tied to organized crime and targeted.

“Both were known to Abbotsford Police for their involvement in criminal activities and the drug trade,” said Carr. “At this time we’re not aware of any links to any other homicides.”

While conducting inquiries into Digeorgio’s murder, investigators went to the McConachie Place home and discovered Illes’ body.

Investigators are not releasing details of how the two victims were killed.

Digeorgio and Illes have faced numerous charges in Mission, Abbotsford, and Surrey since 2007, including weapons charges, assault, breaking and entering, and fleeing from police.

Illes was convicted of assault and breach of probation in February of this year, and was facing a break-in charge in Surrey and failing to appear for court.

Digeorgio was convicted of a 2007 assault in Deroche and breach of probation last October.

Both faced multiple charges after RCMP officers tried to serve arrest warrants on the pair on May 1, 2008.

Police attended the home, but on their arrival a man in a stolen car turned it around and drove at an officer, striking him in the arm before escaping. The woman and man abandoned the car a short distance away, but were seen getting into a taxi. RCMP were able to surround the cab and arrest the pair.

Digeorgio and Illes were charged with possession of stolen property and resisting a police officer.

Additionally, Illes faced four firearms charges while Digeorgio was charged with dangerous driving, assault with a weapon, and assaulting a police officer.

Digeorgio eventually pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possesion of stolen property and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He served 11 months in jail.

The pair’s neighbours on McConachie Place said they had little contact with the couple, who moved into the rental suite a couple of weeks ago.

Police have questioned residents about whether they saw or heard anything last Wednesday night, the evening before Digeorgio’s body was found in the torched car.

A memorial Facebook site has been set up for the pair.

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