A third man murdered in the Lakeview area in 10 months has sparked heightened concern in the gay community.
The body of Forest Cowley was found two days after the annual Chicago Pride Parade, the morning of June 29, in his apartment at 638 W. Cornelia.
Cowley, 44, was reportedly a part owner of a shop that sells Cubs items. Police have not linked the three crimes together, and it is not known if Cowley was gay. The cause was blunt force trauma, according to the Chicago Police Department, which said as of July 6 there were no other clues in this ongoing homicide investigation.
On Pride Sunday, the family of murder victim Kevin Clewer, found stabbed to death March 24, marched in the Pride Parade searching for anyone with clues to the identity of his killer.
Last August, Brad Nelson Winters, well known in Chicago's theater community, was found stabbed to death on the 500 block of Belden. Clewer lived on the 3400 block of North Elaine.
Both Winters and Clewer were gay, and both were stabbed to death. There are no suspects in the Winters death. But police have posted a sketch of a suspect in Clewer's murder. The suspect goes by the name of 'Fernando,' is about 25, 5'7', has a thin, athletic build and a Spanish accent.
Police spokespersons emphasized that they do not believe any of these three murders are connected.