Outrage in Antioch as Suspect in Megan Bos Death Released Under SAFE-T Act, Officials and Family Demand Justice and Immediate Changes to the Law
ANTIOCH, Ill. — The death of Megan Bos, a 37-year-old woman whose disappearance in February gripped the Antioch community, has taken a deeply troubling turn. New details surrounding the case — and the release of the suspect charged with concealing her body — are fueling outrage among residents, officials, and Bos’s grieving loved ones.
Bos vanished in early February, sparking a massive, weeks-long search effort. Her family, friends, and volunteers scoured areas around Antioch and beyond, hoping to find her safe. Those hopes were shattered in April when Bos’s body was discovered under a blue tarp inside a container behind a residence in Waukegan, roughly seven weeks after she was last seen alive.
Now, anger is boiling over after the man charged in connection to her death — Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a known acquaintance of Bos — was released from custody under provisions of Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act.
Shocking Allegations and a Community in Mourning
According to police reports, Mendoza-Gonzalez admitted that Bos died at his home. Instead of calling 911, he allegedly broke her phone, kept her body hidden in the basement for two days, and later moved her remains outdoors, concealing them inside a container.
Authorities have charged Mendoza-Gonzalez with concealment of a death and abuse of a corpse — serious offenses, but under the current SAFE-T Act, not ones that automatically warrant pretrial detention without specific conditions being met.
The news of his release — less than 48 hours after his arrest — has left Antioch residents stunned and furious.
Officials Demand Action
Among the most vocal critics is Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner, who is also a practicing attorney with 25 years of experience.
“I was shocked to find out literally the next day that the person they had arrested was released,” Gartner said. “There are extenuating circumstances in this case — the type of crime, how long it was concealed, and the fact that the individual is not a U.S. citizen and could potentially flee the country.”
Gartner called the situation a profound failure of the justice system and urged a reassessment of the SAFE-T Act’s detention provisions. “This is exactly the type of case that should give lawmakers pause,” he emphasized. “Someone who hid a body for nearly two months should not be walking free pending trial.”
State Representative Tom Weber also voiced outrage, questioning how someone accused of such serious misconduct could be released without awaiting full toxicology results or facing harsher charges.
“Someone who left a body in a garbage can for 51 days should not be free,” Weber said. “We need to make sure justice is served — not just for Megan, but for the safety of our entire community.”
Family and Friends: ‘We Won’t Stop Fighting’
The pain is palpable among Bos’s family and friends, who are struggling to come to terms with the devastating series of events.
“It’s all I get back from her — her jewelry,” said Jennifer Bos, Megan’s mother, through tears. “I didn’t even get to see her.”
Friends Jennie Szalay and Jenn Merritt, who led many of the initial search efforts, said they are haunted by the knowledge that Megan was hidden so close to where they had focused their search.
“We were within 200 feet of her. The entire time,” Szalay said. “It’s unbearable.”
Despite their grief, Bos’s loved ones are determined to keep her story alive and push for change.
“We’re not going to let Megan’s story end here,” said Merritt. “We want justice for her, and we want to make sure this never happens to anyone else.”
What’s Next
A vigil honoring Megan Bos is scheduled for Saturday, where friends, family, and community members will gather to mourn her loss and demand accountability.
Meanwhile, investigators are still awaiting the final toxicology results to determine Bos’s exact cause of death — findings that could impact the legal proceedings moving forward.
The controversy surrounding Mendoza-Gonzalez’s release is likely to intensify debates over the SAFE-T Act, a sweeping criminal justice reform law that eliminated cash bail in Illinois and narrowed the criteria for pretrial detention.
As the community rallies for Megan and her family, many are calling for immediate legislative action to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.