Off Duty | The Guardian Investigates Off Duty: The Crime
Mar 18, 2026
A cold‑case murder of an off‑duty officer and the rushed police manhunt that followed. A contested 2019 trial with surveillance footage, confessions and courtroom tension. Family history, neighborhood gang dynamics and lingering questions about coerced statements. A legal team's review of files uncovers a surprising taped admission that challenges the official account.
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When Systems Doubled Down On A Flawed Case
- Institutional failures amplified a single homicide into a 12-year pursuit that prioritized conviction over truth.
- Melissa Segura traces how police, supervisors, forensics, and prosecutors repeatedly reinforced each other's mistakes, escalating harm to suspects and families.
Family Watches Conviction Amid Heavy Police Presence
- Alex Villa maintained his innocence from arrest through a 2019 trial that ended in conviction after under four hours of jury deliberation.
- His family watched the trial surrounded by a heavy Chicago police presence, feeling the process was predetermined and hostile.
Local History Shaped Police Suspicion
- Community context and prior interactions with police shaped how Alex and his siblings were treated and perceived.
- Growing up amid gang activity and repeated police encounters made Alex a known figure and target to officers in the 25th district.