American carjacker of Illinois kills woman by zip-tying her throat, leaves note saying it was his 'only choice’: police

Reese Miller, 24, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking

By Edward Era Barbacena 

A white American man of Illinois allegedly left an apology note in a vehicle he stole claiming he was "deeply sorry for hurting anyone" after killing a woman by zip-tying her throat.

Reese Miller, 24, was caught on Aug. 30 driving a blue Toyota Scion belonging to Ma L. Operio, 61, about three hours after she was found with a zip-tie around her neck that obstructed her breathing, the Harwood Heights Police Department said.

Police recovered a knife and an apology note in the vehicle in which Miller said he was "deeply sorry for hurting anyone at the moment, it seemed to be the only choice."

"I didn't want to hurt people," the note continued. "It was never something I ever thought possible until the realization of reality hit me."

Miller confessed to the crime and was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking, police announced

Officers found Operio outside her Harwood Heights home just after 6:30 a.m. with the zip-tie around her neck. They removed it, performed CPR and rushed her to the hospital, where she was put on life support. She died on Sept. 3 after family made the decision to take her off of it.

"They said when she was laying on the pavement she was already dead," Operio's mother Maria Gimeno told WGNTV. "They revived her when they took her to the ER and then she was brain-dead."

A neighbor told police they were preparing to leave for work when they witnessed a man lying on top of the woman, appearing to choke her. He allegedly moved Operio's body after securing the zip-tie and drove off in the car.