Lottery ticket leads to arrest

ABC7

April 13, 2007 - A lottery ticket led Chicago police to a suspect in the 2005 murder of two people at a Southwest Side Store. Surveillance video showed a suspect buying lottery tickets before the murders. Those numbers matched the address of the suspect's home.

Timothy Fountain, 37, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He was linked to the crime by the lottery tickets, a witness and DNA. Police credit "good, old fashion detective work" in the arrest.

"Area 1 detectives actively and aggressively worked this case for the past 2 years," said Patricia Walsh, Chicago Police Dept.

Fountain is accused killing 38-year-old Graciela Rodriguez and 76-year-old Nicholas Guerrero almost two years ago during a robbery at Maggy's Food, a corner store in Brighton Park.

The suspect was seen on surveillance tape forcing Rodriguez, the cashier, to open the register. Police say the suspect then took both Rodriguez and Guerrero, a customer, to the back and shot them. Before the robbery, the suspect played the lottery and left the Pick Four tickets --with the numbers 5150 and 5157 -- in the store. The tickets were bearing.

"These numbers checked against the Chicago police arrest data base. This check resulted in finding that Timothy Fountain resided at an address that matched one of these numbers," said Walsh.

There was also a match using the police department's DNA database with materials collected under Guerrero's fingernails. Fountain has an extensive criminal background with 31arrests and 7 convictions ranging from domestic battery to burglary.

Police informed the victims' relatives of the arrest.

"They're pleased that someone is being held responsible of course it doesn't bring loved ones back," said Velma Candelario, Chicago Police Department.

Fountain will appear in bond court on Monday.

WOW