Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton Pleads Not Guilty to Obstruction of Justice Charge in Will County Court

Joliet police officers work at the scene where eight people were fatally shot on Jan. 23, 2024. The girlfriend of a suspect in the Chicago suburb shooting pleaded not guilty to an obstruction of justice charge on Thursday. (Antonio Perez /Chicago Tribune via AP)

Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, a 21-year-old resident of Joliet, has entered a plea of not guilty in a Will County court on Thursday. She is facing an obstruction of justice charge, as prosecutors allege that she provided false information to authorities during their investigation into her boyfriend, Romeo Nance. Nance, who was suspected of fatally shooting eight people, including seven relatives and an additional individual, fled to Texas where he ultimately took his own life as U.S. Marshals closed in on him.

The tragic events unfolded in a Chicago suburb last month, leaving the community in shock. Cleveland-Singleton, who has a child with Nance, is accused of misleading investigators by initially denying knowledge of Nance’s whereabouts. Prosecutors argue that this false information hindered the investigation and obstructed justice.

According to Joliet police, Cleveland-Singleton willingly cooperated with authorities by agreeing to be questioned on January 22. This cooperation came after she was identified as Nance’s girlfriend and the mother of their 3-year-old son. Unfortunately, Nance took his own life on the same day.

The victims of Nance’s violent rampage, which occurred between January 22 and January 23, have been identified as his mother, Tamaeka Nance (47), his brother Joshua Nance (31), his sister Alexandria Nance (20), two younger sisters (aged 16 and 14), his aunt Christine Esters (38), his uncle William Esters II (35), and another man named Toyosi Bakare (28). Bakare was fatally shot outside an apartment building, and it is believed that Nance randomly fired at him and another individual, who sustained a leg injury.

The motive behind these horrific killings remains unknown as authorities have not released any information regarding it. However, the impact on the affected families and the wider community has been devastating.

After fleeing to Texas, Nance was located by U.S. Marshals near Natalia, a town approximately 30 miles southwest of San Antonio. It was in this area that Nance took his own life. Sheriff Randy Brown of Medina County, Texas, speculates that Nance was attempting to reach Mexico, which is approximately 120 miles south of Natalia along Interstate 35.

Despite the tragedy and the serious charges against her, Cleveland-Singleton maintains her innocence and has pleaded not guilty. She is currently on home confinement as the legal proceedings continue.

For more information on this case, you can read the full article here.