Where There's Smoke Vincent Trevizo

Where There's Smoke    Joliet, Illinois fire fighters are shocked to find 28-year-old Melissa Plut strangled to death when they respond to a fire in her duplex. Police search the nurse's love life with no luck until a 9-1-1 call unmasks her killer hiding in plain sight.  

The facts underlying Vincent Trevizo’s convictions are detailed in this court’s prior order, and only the facts necessary to resolve this appeal will be recited.  On May 7, 2001, defendant was charged by indictment with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealment of a homicidal death, one count of aggravated arson, and one count of residential arson. The indictment alleged that, on September 3, 2000, defendant strangled the victim, Melissa Plut, thereby causing her death. The indictment further alleged that defendant set fire to the victim’s residence while the victim’ sbody remained inside.  Before he was indicted, defendant retained attorneys Tom Breen and Todd Pugh to represent him.

Vincent was convicted of homicide, aggravated arson and concealing a homicide. The murder charge
carries a prison term of 20 to 60 years, and Trevizo faces an additional 6 to 30 years for aggravated arson. He live in a nearby duplex with his wife and one year old child. They had shared one beer in her drive way.

 Links

Story of Murdered Joliet Nurse to Be Featured on TV Show

You can write to Vincent Trevizo at:

Vincent Trevizo        R22750
Hill Correctional Center
P.O. Box 1700
Galesburg, IL 61402