Dad: Murder Trial is 'in God's Hands Now'

The father of a slain High School graduate said he wants closure after waiting three years to see his son's killer brought to justice.

Felix Jimenez Sr. visited the grave site of his son—also named Felix—on Friday, the three-year anniversary of his death following a stabbing at an Oak Forest house party. His family and friends of his son gathered around the grave at the Good Shepherd Cemetery in Orland Park. His son was 18 years old, a recent high school graduate with plans to enter the military. 

The trial of Derek Grib, who is accused in the murder, was again pushed back, this time to August, by a Cook County judge last week. Jimenez spoke with Oak Forest Patch about the emotional toll the dragged-out trial has taken.

"Everyday, I live with it," Jimenez said. "I wake up thinking about it, taking it to work with me and dealing with it. It's going to be the that way for the rest of my life."

The new trial date is Aug. 21, but the also is expected to try an older murder case on Aug. 20, which might prompt the prosecution to push back the Grib trial to October.

"I know they have a lot of other cases there," Jimenez said. "But this is going on three years now. And it's been a whole year telling us 'Trial. Trial. Trial.'"

Jimenez said he is "fed up" and that three years is long enough for the family to wait on the trial. He blames the Cook County court system, which he said doesn't have enough money to handle the number of cases they have, which is causing the delays.

It's tough knowing that Grib is free on bond and "living his life" in the Oak Forest area, Jimenez said.

"It's in God's hands now."

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