CHICAGO — A man already incarcerated on unrelated charges has now been linked to a violent 2024 carjacking in Roseland through DNA evidence, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Ricky Hill, 33, was charged this week with vehicular hijacking and robbery related to the April 2024 incident. Hill had already been in custody for a separate stolen vehicle case when forensic results matched his DNA to the crime scene, officials confirmed.
Victim Surprised in Alley Behind South Edbrooke
According to prosecutors, the 45-year-old victim had parked his black 2013 Cadillac CTS in an alley behind the 10900 block of South Edbrooke Avenue and stepped away momentarily. That’s when he was approached from behind by a man and woman.
- The woman reportedly jumped into the driver’s seat
- The man entered the passenger side
- When the victim tried to intervene, the male suspect allegedly pointed a gun and warned: “You don’t want to die tonight”
The assailants stole the man’s wallet and fled in the vehicle.
DNA Evidence Cracks the Case Over a Year Later
Two days after the carjacking, police recovered the abandoned Cadillac in the 7100 block of South Ashland. Investigators processed the vehicle for DNA and fingerprints, but it took over a year to yield results.
- On May 15, 2025, a DNA match tied Johnetta Smith, 35, to the stolen vehicle.
- Shortly afterward, the victim identified Smith in a photo lineup
- Smith was formally charged last month, and during her detention hearing, she reportedly identified Hill as her accomplice
Now, authorities say Hill’s DNA has also matched evidence taken from the Cadillac, leading to the second round of charges.
Smith Accused in a Second Carjacking Weeks Later
Shockingly, just two weeks after police matched her DNA to the Roseland case, Smith allegedly committed another hijacking:
- On May 29, 2025, officers reportedly found her behind the wheel of a 2013 Chevy Equinox
- The car had been reported stolen from a 71-year-old man — again in the 7100 block of South Ashland
- Smith now faces additional charges, including:
- Vehicular hijacking
- Aggravated fleeing
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle
This pattern of repeat offenses before an arrest was even made has raised concerns about response times and forensic processing delays in active investigations.
Have you or someone you know been impacted by delayed arrests or backlogged forensic results in carjacking cases? Share your experience in the comments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com — your story could help raise awareness and spark change.
