Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 21, 2006 1:42:07 GMT -5
Prosecutors have until next month to decide if the spouse of a former Burlington woman will face the death penalty.
"He (Neil Lofquist) is definitely eligible for the death penalty," said
Paul Darrah, spokesman for the DuPage County, Ill., State's Attorney's office. "The lead prosecutor hasn't decided whether to push for it. We have until August to let the court know if that is the way we want to go,"
The Clarendon Hills, Ill., man and former Sunday school teacher is charged with 1stdegree murder in the death of his 8yearold daughter, Lauren. His wife, Lisa Lofquist, is the former Lisa Willson, a 1985 graduate of Burlington High School.
Neil Lofquist, 41, has pleaded not guilty and appeared Tuesday for a status hearing. He is slated to appear next month for a preliminary hearing at the DuPage County Courthouse where a tentative trial date will be set.
A DuPage County grand jury indicted Lofquist for 1stdegree murder and 2 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault for allegedly molesting his daughter.
"The grand jury has charged Neil Lofquist with committing one of the most unspeakable of crimes, sexually assaulting and murdering his own daughter," DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett said in a written statement.
Last month, a despondent Lofquist climbed a weight machine during a workout session at the DuPage County jail in Wheaton, Ill., and plunged headfirst onto the concrete floor in what officials describe as a suicide attempt.
Lofquist was released Monday from the Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., and was returned to jail.
Lofquist, who told police he killed his daughter because she was the devil incarnate, is expected to use insanity as a defense despite the fact he lacks a history of mental illness. The 41 year old has undergone a series of psychological evaluations since his arrest.
According to police, at about 8 p.m. March 26, Lofquist entered his
daughter's bedroom where he sexually assaulted, then strangled her.
Eventually, Lofquist removed Lauren from her bedroom to a bathroom where he allegedly submerged her head in a toilet while stabbing her in the neck with a knife.
Police said Lofquist's wife was at the couple's 2story suburban Chicago residence at the time of the murder but was unaware it had occurred.
Lofquist left the home after allegedly killing his daughter and confronted a neighbor who reported to Lisa Lofquist that her husband was acting strangely.
Lisa Lofquist rushed her husband to a nearby hospital and asked the neighbor to check on Lauren.
Minutes later, the girl's body was discovered on the bathroom floor, according to authorities.
(source: The Hawk Eye)
"He (Neil Lofquist) is definitely eligible for the death penalty," said
Paul Darrah, spokesman for the DuPage County, Ill., State's Attorney's office. "The lead prosecutor hasn't decided whether to push for it. We have until August to let the court know if that is the way we want to go,"
The Clarendon Hills, Ill., man and former Sunday school teacher is charged with 1stdegree murder in the death of his 8yearold daughter, Lauren. His wife, Lisa Lofquist, is the former Lisa Willson, a 1985 graduate of Burlington High School.
Neil Lofquist, 41, has pleaded not guilty and appeared Tuesday for a status hearing. He is slated to appear next month for a preliminary hearing at the DuPage County Courthouse where a tentative trial date will be set.
A DuPage County grand jury indicted Lofquist for 1stdegree murder and 2 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault for allegedly molesting his daughter.
"The grand jury has charged Neil Lofquist with committing one of the most unspeakable of crimes, sexually assaulting and murdering his own daughter," DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett said in a written statement.
Last month, a despondent Lofquist climbed a weight machine during a workout session at the DuPage County jail in Wheaton, Ill., and plunged headfirst onto the concrete floor in what officials describe as a suicide attempt.
Lofquist was released Monday from the Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., and was returned to jail.
Lofquist, who told police he killed his daughter because she was the devil incarnate, is expected to use insanity as a defense despite the fact he lacks a history of mental illness. The 41 year old has undergone a series of psychological evaluations since his arrest.
According to police, at about 8 p.m. March 26, Lofquist entered his
daughter's bedroom where he sexually assaulted, then strangled her.
Eventually, Lofquist removed Lauren from her bedroom to a bathroom where he allegedly submerged her head in a toilet while stabbing her in the neck with a knife.
Police said Lofquist's wife was at the couple's 2story suburban Chicago residence at the time of the murder but was unaware it had occurred.
Lofquist left the home after allegedly killing his daughter and confronted a neighbor who reported to Lisa Lofquist that her husband was acting strangely.
Lisa Lofquist rushed her husband to a nearby hospital and asked the neighbor to check on Lauren.
Minutes later, the girl's body was discovered on the bathroom floor, according to authorities.
(source: The Hawk Eye)