CHICAGO — A man already under electronic monitoring for a felony gun case has been sentenced to 52 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend on the city’s South Side, authorities confirmed.
Arturo De La Mora, who had a documented history of domestic violence, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the death of 30-year-old Karena Silva. Judge Charles Burns handed down the sentence, which under Illinois law must be served in full — with no credit for good behavior.
Deadly Shooting While Under Supervision
De La Mora was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the killing. He had been released on bail for a separate incident in which police allegedly found him with a loaded handgun during a June 2022 traffic stop involving Silva’s car. He posted a $9,000 bond and returned home under electronic monitoring.
Less than a year later, on February 28, 2023, De La Mora arrived at a hospital claiming he’d been shot. When police investigated the home on the 2000 block of West 69th Street, they discovered Silva dead from a gunshot wound in a bedroom.
Evidence Linked De La Mora to the Crime
Police recovered the murder weapon at the scene, and forensic analysis confirmed De La Mora’s DNA on the firearm, fingerprints on the magazine, and gunshot residue on his clothing. He was taken into custody the same day.
Despite the evidence, murder charges were not filed until August 2024, roughly 18 months later. During that time, De La Mora reportedly attempted to escape police custody and assaulted an officer. Those charges remain pending.
Repeat Offender with Prior Convictions
Records show De La Mora had previously served time for battering Silva, as well as in a separate case involving sexual abuse and kidnapping of a stranger. He was released from prison in April 2021, just 14 months before being arrested in Silva’s car with a gun.
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