A routine Facebook Marketplace transaction in suburban Chicago spiraled into an unspeakable nightmare when a 19-year-old buyer allegedly returned to stab a pregnant mother 70 times, kill her unborn child, attack her dog, and torch her apartment over dissatisfaction with a used pickup truck.
Story Snapshot
- Eliza Morales, 30 and months from delivering her second child, was murdered during a Facebook Marketplace exchange for a 1994 Ford Ranger in Downers Grove, Illinois
- Nedas Revuckas, 19, confessed to stabbing Morales, attacking the family dog, and setting fire to the apartment after becoming upset about the truck’s condition
- Prosecutors charged Revuckas with first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, armed robbery, aggravated arson, and animal cruelty
- The family’s pit bull mix survived a stab wound between the eyes, and Morales left behind a two-year-old daughter now being raised by relatives
- A GoFundMe campaign raised over $30,000 as the community grappled with the tragedy during a vigil held January 29, 2026
When a Simple Sale Turns Deadly
Gabriel Morales listed his family’s 1994 Ford Ranger on Facebook Marketplace over the weekend before January 27, 2026, seeking extra cash in typical suburban fashion. Nedas Revuckas responded to the listing, picked up the vehicle, and drove away with what seemed like a completed transaction. That Monday evening around 5:30 p.m., surveillance cameras captured Revuckas returning to the Morales apartment in Westmont for license plates and a bill of sale. Eliza Morales handed him a screwdriver at the door, an innocuous gesture that would become the weapon in her murder.
Seventy Wounds and a Confession That Doesn’t Add Up
Revuckas entered the apartment at 5:47 p.m., and surveillance footage shows the door handle turning frantically from inside moments later as someone attempted to escape. By 5:57 p.m., smoke billowed from the unit. First responders arrived at 6:09 p.m. to find Eliza Morales dead with approximately 70 stab wounds concentrated on her head and neck. The family’s pit bull mix lay nearby, stabbed between the eyes but alive, having escaped the burning apartment. Revuckas claimed during his confession that he stabbed Morales only 10 times, a jarring disconnect from the autopsy findings that revealed seven times that number.
The Rage Behind the Transaction
Police located Revuckas shortly after the murder at his girlfriend’s home, the Ford Ranger parked conspicuously in the driveway. He confessed to the stabbing, arson, and robbery, telling investigators his frustration over the truck’s condition drove him to return and confront Eliza Morales. During the attack, he learned she was pregnant. Prosecutors detailed how Revuckas robbed her at the doorstep, stabbed her when she resisted, then set the apartment ablaze in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. The brutality exceeds typical crimes associated with online marketplace disputes, which usually involve theft or minor altercations rather than homicidal fury.
A Family Shattered and a Community on Edge
Gabriel Morales now faces raising his two-year-old daughter alone while mourning both his wife and unborn child. His mother-in-law, Angelica Silva, described the crime as “pure evil,” while Gabriel himself stated he would spend the rest of his life missing Eliza. Family members organized a vigil on January 29 and launched a GoFundMe campaign that surpassed $30,000 toward a $40,000 goal, reflecting the community’s compassion amid horror. The surviving dog recovered from its injuries, a small mercy in an ocean of grief. Downers Grove residents now view Facebook Marketplace transactions through a darker lens, questioning safety protocols for in-person exchanges.
The Legal Reckoning and Unanswered Questions
DuPage County prosecutors charged Revuckas with first-degree murder for both Eliza Morales and her unborn child, along with armed robbery, aggravated arson, and aggravated animal cruelty. He remains in DuPage County Jail without bond, his court hearing postponed from its original Thursday date. The charges reflect the cascade of violence: intentional murder, forcible felony murder via robbery and arson, and deliberate harm to an unborn child. Facebook Marketplace, launched in 2016, has faced criticism for facilitating anonymous transactions that occasionally turn violent, though none rival this case’s severity. The platform may face renewed pressure to implement safety features like verified meetup locations or user vetting systems.
What This Means for Online Sales Safety
This tragedy underscores the hidden dangers lurking in peer-to-peer commerce. Eliza Morales did everything ordinarily reasonable: her husband listed the truck, completed the sale, and arranged a follow-up exchange at their home for paperwork. Revuckas’ reaction to the vehicle’s condition, escalating from buyer’s remorse to mass violence, defies rational prediction. The case raises uncomfortable questions about trusting strangers invited into private spaces for transactions. Police recommend public meetup spots, daytime exchanges, and companion presence, yet such precautions clash with the convenience that makes platforms like Facebook Marketplace appealing. Common sense dictates caution, but no safety measure fully insulates against irrational rage dressed as a dissatisfied customer.
Sources:
Man arrested after allegedly stabbing pregnant woman during Facebook Marketplace meetup – ABC News4
