Natalia Chi
Two men have been charged with second-degree murder after a Highland Park man died during a beach brawl along Lake Michigan in September.
Lake County prosecutors said Thursday they had raised charges against Nicholas Caban, 20, and Jacob Firestone, 19, of Highland Park in the death of Matthew Ascaridis.
The news release did not provide a basis for the upgraded charges. However, State Attorney Eric Reinhart said the office of Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek was investigating the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve crime scene. played an important role in the analysis.
The two were arrested on Thursday with warrants, officials said.
Ascaridis, 45, died on September 17 after a bag collided with Firestone in a forest reserve along Lake Michigan.
Authorities say Ascaridis, who lived near the reserve, came down to the beach around 1 a.m. because the two were making a lot of noise, and a confrontation ensued.
Around 5:30 am, someone walking along the beach came across Ascaridis’ corpse. At about the same time, Kavan asked authorities to report the incident.
As a result of the investigation, Caban and Firestone were charged, but not for crimes directly related to Ascaridis’ death.
Authorities said police found a pistol with an altered serial number during a search of Kavan’s bedroom and charged him with a weapons violation. According to reports, Firestone was charged with obstruction of justice for attempting to cover up evidence of a deadly battle.
An autopsy showed Ascaridis died from multiple injuries, officials said. Firestone was hospitalized after the fight, and Caban’s attorney said in September that his client was “beaten” during the incident.
According to his obituary and online sources, Ascaridis was a financial planner and a married father of two who played youth hockey.
“We have kept the family informed of the progress of the investigation. We will continue to support them even after this brutal attack has taken away a husband, brother, father, son and friend,” said Reinhart. said.
Under state law, a defendant could be charged with second-degree murder if he faced provocation and may have acted under “sudden or intense passion.” An indictment may also be filed if the defendant believes he or she is acting in self-defense, but that belief is unreasonable.
