April 19, 2024
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Teen charged with Bolingbrook triple murder, attempted murder indicted by grand jury

By Felix Sarver
Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, hangs his head upon hearing he will be transferred from River Valley Juvenile Detention Center to Will County Jail when he turns 18 on April 28th at his hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Joliet. Montgomery is accused of the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton-Tillman, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart.

Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, hangs his head upon hearing he will be transferred from River Valley Juvenile Detention Center to Will County Jail when he turns 18 on April 28th at his hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday in Joliet. Montgomery is charged with the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart, 34. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

A 17-year-old charged with a triple homicide and attempted murder on March 5 in Bolingbrook was visibly distraught during his second court appearance, where he learned he was indicted and would be transferred to the adult jail facility next month.

At Thursday’s court hearing, Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook was informed that a grand jury indicted him the same day on first-degree murder charges of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9.

Montgomery also stands charged with the attempted murder of Tania Stewart, 34, the fiancee of Cartez Daniels and mother of Samiya and Sanai.

Toward the end of Thursday’s court hearing, Montgomery looked upset as he wiped his face with one of his sleeves. He then hid his face with his hand as he exited the courtroom.

Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, hides his emotional break down as he leaves his hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Joliet. Montgomery is accused of the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton-Tillman, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart.

Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, hides his face as he leaves his hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Joliet. Montgomery is charged with the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart, 34. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

The 13-count indictment contained the same charges that were filed against Montgomery on March 6. Those charges include nine counts of first-degree murder, along with other charges of attempted first-degree murder, home invasion, aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful use of weapon.

The charges against Montgomery followed a Bolingbrook police investigation of a deadly home invasion the evening of March 5. Montgomery, who is being represented by the Will County Public Defender’s Office, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

An order to have Montgomery submit to DNA testing was granted by Dave Carlson, presiding judge of the felony division at the Will County Courthouse. Carlson assigned Montgomery’s case to Judge Dan Rippy.

Montgomery’s next court date is May 11.

Carlson noted at Thursday’s hearing that Montgomery, who is being held at River Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Joliet, will be transferred to the Will County jail after he turns 18 on April 27.

Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, is directed into the courtroom for a hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Joliet. Montgomery is accused of the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton-Tillman, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart.

Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, is directed into the courtroom for a hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Thursday in Joliet. Montgomery is charged with the murders of Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton, 17, and Sanai Daniels, 9, at a residence in the 100 block of Lee Lane in Bolingbrook, as well as attempted first-degree murder of Tania Stewart, 34. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)

Stewart, who was shot five times in the incident, told The Herald-News her own account of what occurred March 5.

“[Montgomery] took my rock. He took my everything,” Stewart of her daughter Samiya’s ex-boyfriend. “He was obsessed with her. I didn’t know that.”

Stewart, along with her two sons, Cartez Junior, or CJ, 14, and Juelz, 3, were the only survivors of the incident. While her two sons were not harmed in the incident, Stewart said she learned they saw Montgomery stab her fiance, Cartez Daniels, after he had shot him.

Stewart said Montgomery entered her home without permission after Samiya broke up with him, shot Cartez Daniels, herself and Samiya.

She said her son CJ told her that Cartez Daniels was still alive and crawling for Sanai Daniels, who had been shot, when Montgomery flipped their dining room table on top of the girl, grabbed a knife and stabbed Cartez Daniels multiple times in front of his sons.

Montgomery’s bond has been set at $20 million, an amount that exceeds that of 12 other defendants in the Will County jail, according to data provided by Will County Sheriff’s Office.

The top three defendants currently in the Will County jail on the highest bonds include Jay Nink, 35, at $11 million, Joskar Ramos, 19, at $11 million, and Cornell Cunningham, 33, at $10.5 million.