A Justice man has been charged with first degree murder in the Feb. 20 death of Homewood resident James Kerrigan. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Monday approved the felony murder charge against Frederick Walker, 23, who lives in the 8600 block of 81st Street in the southwest suburb.

man from Justice, is charged
with murder in the death of
James Kerrigan of Homewood.
(Police photo)
A Justice man has been charged with first degree murder in the Feb. 20 death of Homewood resident James Kerrigan.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Monday approved the felony murder charge against Frederick Walker, 23, who lives in the 8600 block of 81st Street in the southwest suburb.
According to a press release about the charges from the village of Homewood, Walker was employed by a private home health care agency and was working in the residence as a caregiver to assist Kerrigan, 78, following a surgical procedure.
Walker will be in court for a bond hearing on Tuesday at the Cook County courthouse in Markham.
Kerrigan was found dead in his home in the 1000 block of 185th Street when Homewood fire and police personnel responded to a fire at about 8:45 p.m. on Feb. 20.
On Feb. 22, the Cook County medical examiner ruled Kerrigan’s death as a homicide. According to the medical examiner’s office, he died of multiple sharp force injuries.
The Homewood Police Department was assisted by the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. A separate investigation is on-going regarding the cause of the fire, Monday’s press release says.