Suspect Captured in Execution-Style Murder of Momence Bar Owner

Article Summary: Authorities have arrested a 47-year-old Indiana man in connection with the fatal shooting of Courtney Drysdale, the owner of a bar in rural Momence. The suspect was apprehended 26 hours after the robbery and homicide occurred.

Momence Homicide Investigation Key Points:

• The Suspect: Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, of Hammond, Indiana, was arrested outside his residence on Tuesday.

• The Crime: Courtney Drysdale, 30, was shot and killed during a robbery at “The Line” bar on Monday morning, despite complying with the robber’s demands.

• The Investigation: Surveillance images of the suspect and his white BMW, recovered after he failed to disable a camera, led to community tips that assisted law enforcement.

MOMENCE, Ill. — A multi-agency manhunt ended Tuesday afternoon with the arrest of a Hammond, Indiana man accused of the execution-style murder of a beloved Momence bar owner.

The Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office announced that Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, was taken into custody in the 6400 block of Rhode Island Avenue in Hammond, Indiana, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The arrest occurred approximately 26 hours after the homicide took place.

Authorities allege Burkes entered “The Line” bar, located along Illinois Route 114 near the Indiana state line, just before noon on Monday, Feb. 2. Courtney Drysdale, the 30-year-old owner of the establishment, was opening the business at the time.

According to investigators, the assailant demanded money. Although Drysdale complied with the demands, she was shot twice. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The break in the case came after investigators recovered surveillance images from the scene. Police stated the suspect attempted to remove what he believed to be a recording device from the wall but failed to destroy the footage. On Tuesday morning, the Sheriff’s Office released photos of the suspect and a white, four-door BMW sedan with a sunroof and distinctive dark rims.

Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey credited the swift arrest to the cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the public.

“I want to commend the community-at-large for coming together and providing quantities of tips and information that ultimately led to this swift arrest,” Downey said. “This type of violent behavior has no place in our society.”

Drysdale was a mother of a school-aged daughter and had transitioned from a longtime bartender at the business to its owner. Friends and colleagues described her as a selfless individual deeply invested in the happiness of others.

“She would literally give up the whole world for somebody and would always be there for everybody,” friend and coworker Hailey Gershon said in an interview with ABC7.

The apprehension operation involved the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Illinois State Police, and the Hammond Police Department. Burkes was arrested peacefully as he exited his residence.

“We hope that in some way the apprehension of this monster will bring some sort of peace to Courtney’s family, friends and community,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Burkes is currently being held in Indiana awaiting an extradition hearing to return to Illinois, where he will face charges. The investigation remains ongoing.