Police: Man Charged With First-Degree Murder of Linda Valez

A 40-year-old man was charged Tuesday in connection with the death of a 
Wheaton woman found stabbed and buried in a Glen Ellyn park, police confirmed.

Myron D. Ester, 40, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Linda Valez, Glen Ellyn Deputy Police Chief Bill Holmer said.

Ester, who has lived in Wheaton, was booked into the DuPage County Jail on Tuesday, according to county records. He will likely appear in bond court Wednesday.

Valez had previously introduced Ester as her boyfriend, said Glen Ellyn resident Margaret "Meg" Burau, a friend of Valez.

A Valez relative said that Ester was homeless, as was Valez, and that he was being questioned in connection to her death. He was seen with Valez leaving the Glen Ellyn McDonald's on the 400 block of Roosevelt Road Sept. 24, according to the relative. Valez started working there recently, Burau said.

Valez was last seen in Glen Ellyn on Sept. 24, according to a flyer her family distributed on Sept. 28. While Glen Ellyn police were searching for her on Saturday, an officer found a wooded area in Panfish Park on the 600 block of Wilson Avenue that looked suspicious.

A body found buried in the wooded area was identified by the family as Valez. An official cause of death has not been determined, but Valez was stabbed, police said.

Glen Ellyn police previously said on Monday they had taken someone into custody for questioning about Valez's death.