MISSING
Village of Lyons, Illinois reported that Paresh had been missing since November 10, 2018 and was last seen in Downers Grove. His family made the official police report. MCAT, the Major Case Assistance Team investigated his death. Paresh had no children and was living alone at the time of his disappearance.
MURDERED
November 17, 2018, Detectives discovered an unidentified body in his own vehicle. According to Suburban Chicagoland, Detectives “obtained a search warrant and were able to inspect the missing man’s vehicle, a Honda, which was parked near his home on the 4200 block of South Lawndale, Lyons, (Illinois) around 44th and Prescott Avenue.”
AUTOPSY
Coroner confirmed Paresh was fatally stabbed. Paresh died of “Multiple sharp force injuries”, ruling his death a homicide.
SUSPECT
The Lyons Police Department announced their person of interest was Brian Cruz, also of Lyons, Will County, Illinois. He was listed as ‘Armed & Dangerous”, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on the First Degree Murder charge for the death of Paresh Jhobalia.
Looking at Cruz’s history, he is a registered sex offender for crimes to a thirteen year old victim. Charges (of his history) include Failure to report change of address / employment, Aggravated Sexual Abuse (discharged April 2018). This history is listed on the Will County Court system website (among other charges).
COURT
The next court date is November 20, 2020 in the Bridgeview Courthouse 10220 S 76th Ave #205l, Bridgeview, IL. He is being held without bond. There has been no news updates on this case since December 2018. The motive nor any other details on this case have been released.
If you have any information on Paresh’s disappearance or death, please contact the Lyons Police Department at 708-447-1225.
OBITUARY Paresh “Junior” Jhobalia “Paresh Harichand Jhobalia, known to his friends as Junior, was born in Bombay, India on July 22, 1956. He was the youngest of 9 children to his father, Harichand Malukchand Jhobalia and his mother, Bhanumati Harichand Jhobalia. He is survived by 2 brothers and 4 sisters. His eldest sister, Jyotsna, 15 years his elder, raised him like a second mother. During his childhood, he got good grades and often played outside with his friends. He was the only child in the family to attend an English Medium school since primary school. He graduated high school and attended the University of Bombay to study engineering for a couple years but then he migrated to America in June of 1982 to join his siblings. He moved to LaGrange, IL and worked for 9 years as a commercial cleaning supervisor for an outside contractor for GTE. In 1985, Junior moved to Lyons, IL where he quickly made lifelong friends and established his roots. In 1989, Junior married his longtime girlfriend, Alka Shah, with whom he sent countless love letters to over the course of their 9-year long-distance relationship. Unfortunately, their marriage did not last for more than 1 year and they divorced soon after. Junior spent the next 15 years working for Maintenance Services Company in Oakbrook and North Lake areas. Afterwards, Junior started his own commercial cleaning business called AccuClean. He managed this business until 2011. The economic recession had a big impact on his business, so he decided to close his business and go into early retirement. During his retirement, Junior visited India on a few occasions. Junior was a very generous person. Upon one of his trips to India, Junior visited his father’s birthplace, a small village in India called Nagnesh. Junior donated an entire classroom of computers to the local high school of his family’s namesake, Zobaliya High School. He also donated 2 water cooling machines to provide chilled, potable drinking water to thirsty students in a hot, desert, climate. Junior enjoyed his retirement and often talked about how much he loved meeting up with his friends in Lyons and Countryside. He was a beloved regular at the Time-Out Sportsbar in Countryside among other places. Junior enjoyed traveling across the country in his car, he liked playing billiards, computer games, and watching TV and movies. Junior had a keen fashion sense and loved interior decoration. Earlier this year, he remodeled his entire apartment. Despite his tragic death, he will be remembered for his outgoing personality, his sense of humor, his loyal friendships and his charisma. He would be so touched by the outpour of love by so many of you here today to celebrate his life. He was the baby of the family who called everyone baby.”