A letter carrier’s murder in West Pullman two years ago was a paid hit arranged by a man who threatened to kill a 15-year-old if the boy didn’t carry it out, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Lyndell Deyoung, 35, is charged with murder in the July 19, 2024, killing of Octavia Redmond as she delivered mail in the 12100 block of South Harvard Avenue, making him the third person to face charges in connection with the alleged plot.
In a detailed detention filing, prosecutor Mike Pekara explained how detectives used cellular phone data, a stolen Dodge Durango’s built-in tracking capabilities, and extensive surveillance footage to build a case against Deyoung, the teenage shooter, and 22-year-old Yanheim Edwards, who allegedly drove the getaway vehicle and helped set it on fire.
According to Pekara, the group apparently planned to carry out the hit on July 18, but Redmond never reached the portion of her route where they were waiting. The next day, Edwards and Deyoung met and traveled to the 8500 block of South Givins Avenue, where they had stashed a stolen Dodge Durango. Pekara said they referred to the area as the “low block” because police rarely went there.
Add your first comment to this post