Jennifer Bos says a chance encounter with President Donald Trump at a White House event turned into a decisive moment for her family.
She called out to him as he passed and says they exchanged a few words that shaped her view of his leadership.
Victim and investigation
Megan Bos, 37, of Antioch, Illinois, was reported missing in February 2025 and her body was found two months later in a trash container behind a house in Waukegan.
Officials said the container had been filled with bleach and that the body was partially decomposed when discovered.
Prosecutors alleged that 52-year-old Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, who lived at the home, kept Megan’s body in his basement for days before moving it to the bleach-filled container where it remained for weeks.
He was charged with abuse of a corpse, concealing a death and obstructing justice.
Release under SAFE-T Act and aftermath
Under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, those charges were initially treated as non-detainable and Mendoza-Gonzalez was released following his first court appearance.
Jennifer Bos said the release prompted her to act when she later attended a White House bill signing ceremony where she positioned herself along the president’s path and called out to him.
She described shouting “Mr. President” twice, quickly summarizing the situation, and said she could see the disgust on his face when he heard her story.
Within days, Bos said, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Mendoza-Gonzalez and transferred him to a detention facility in Indiana.
Recognition and political contrast
Bos was later invited to the White House memorial ceremony for “Angel Families,” which she described as moving and validating.
She said she felt important to Mr. Trump when she felt ignored by other officials.
At the 2026 State of the Union, President Trump mentioned Megan Bos by name and called for tougher immigration enforcement while promising justice for victims, with Jennifer Bos seated in the gallery among Angel Families.
Bos contrasted the federal response with what she calls silence from Illinois leaders and said Governor JB Pritzker never mentioned Megan or reached out to her.
She said Trump listened during their brief conversation and acted on what she needed, which she said signaled the difference between a president who cares and leaders who do not.
