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Pipeline Employee Kills Co-Worker; Takes Own Life

courtesy of Macomb Police Department

Macomb police said one of the pipeline workers missing since Thursday was captured in Aurora, Colorado, then hanged himself after telling police where his co-worker’s body might be found.

Jose Busto-Bravo, 45, had been using the alias Francisco Villa.  Police don’t know why he killed Juan Bustamante, 65, and police said they still have not found Bustamante’s body.

“Right now we are focusing on Illinois and in the Macomb area,” said Macomb Police Department Deputy Chief Eric Lenardt of the search for the body. He declined to say where in the area investigators are searching.

He said Busto-Bravo, Bustamante, and two others had been living in the house at 1513 E. Murray St. in Macomb.  The men were in the area to work on the Flanagan South pipeline project.

The roommates told investigators there had been no indication of a dispute between Busto-Bravo and Bustamante.

“The two other roommates left the house about 6:15 in the morning (Thursday, February 27). They indicated that the victim was asleep and that the other gentleman was up just moving around,” said Lenardt.  “Nothing to indicate that this would have happened.

The other two found blood in the home when they returned from work that evening.  Busto-Bravo and Bustamante were missing.

Bustamante’s vehicle was later located in the Wal-Mart parking lot not far from the home.

Credit Rich Egger
Juan Bustamante

Busto-Bravo was apprehended Sunday afternoon, March 2. Lenardt said the suspect had connections there. Lenardt said Busto-Bravo shared details of the murder with detectives in Colorado, but the deputy chief declined to share those details with reporters.

Lenardt said this is being treated as a homicide case, though no murder weapon has been found.

It’s the second violent death in Macomb in recent weeks.

On Sunday, February 16, Ramone Doyle, 43, of 515 E. Pierce St., was killed after getting into a fight with his roommate, Shaun Davis, 25.  An investigation determined Doyle was strangled.

The McDonough County State’s Attorney’s office is still reviewing the Doyle case and no charges have been filed.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.