A man was charged with the stabbing death of a student with autism at Whitney Young High School to death nearly a year ago in East Garfield Park.
31-year-old Darryl Ray, also of East Garfield Park, has been charged with first-degree murder after DNA evidence linked him to the death of Brandon Porter-Young in February 2018, according to Chicago police.
Porter-Young was found stabbed to death around 10 p.m. at the Junior Plaza Hotel in the 3000 block of West Jackson Boulevard last February.
He had been living with his mother at the location since December 2017. Police said he was home alone at the time.
The 18-years-old teen had been diagnosed with autism and had limited verbal skills, his family doubts he would have spoken to anyone or opened the door.
"It's, like, high-functioning. You wouldn't know he had autism unless you talked with him, it takes him a while to respond," said Brian Porter, his brother.
Corryne Irvin, a special education teacher at Whitney Young, said Porter-Young's autism limited his verbal skills and he had a hard time communicating with people he didn't know.
"I was really shocked and it didn't really sink in until yesterday when I came to school and he wasn't here. When he didn't get off the bus," Irvin said in February.
Ray was admitted to Menard Correctional Center in downstate Menard on May 25 and had an expected parole date of February 2024, according to state records.
He is expected to appear for a bail hearing Friday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
