CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The brother of a Chicago man who was brutally murdered more than 19 years ago said he’s confident police are getting closer to being able to make an arrest.
Kevin Clewer, 31, was stabbed more than 40 times in March 2004 in the Boystown neighborhood on the city’s North Side.
From early on, there were reports police suspected a man who went by the name Fernando. Clewer’s older brother, Ron, said that man and another are still suspected.
“The individuals that are alleged to be involved have criminal backgrounds that suggest this is not the first time they’ve done something like this, that they have a history of picking up men in a bar, they have a history of drugging men, they have history of going home with those individuals and, potentially, harming them,” Ron Clewer said.
Clewer has claimed police were getting close to finding his brother Kevin’s killer before. This time, though, he said it’s different. He said someone came forward with information three years ago, which appears to be legitimate. Clewer added that police waited until COVID was winding down before talking to that person.
“It seemed very credible because the individual shared information that was not ever made public,” he said.
Clewer said detectives are waiting for evidence to be processed at the Illinois State Police Crime Lab. He believes it’ll be another two- to six-month wait, at least.
While that wait goes on, Clewer said he’s hoping people come forward who may have been victims of Fernando.
“Specifically, we’re looking for men who may have been picked up by these individuals, who may have gone home and been, either abused or robbed or other and were afraid to come forward back in 2004, 2005,” he said. “We really need to say, ‘Yes, these are the guys.’”
Chicago police have only said the investigation remains open, and that no one has been arrested.
Clewer is 57 years old now, which is one year older than his parents were when they died one year after Kevin Clewer was killed. He said his family is resilient and has been incredibly supportive as he seeks justice for his brother, who would have been 51 this year.
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