Senseless Violence

[HuskyCaucasian]

3 Killed In Hoffman Estates Stabbing

Stabbing Stemmed From Family Dispute; One Person In Custody

Hoffman Estates police received a call from a "distraught female" at 6:44 a.m. She said someone there had been stabbed inside a residence in the 1000 block of North Bluebonnet Lane, according to police Lt. Rich Russo.

 

When officers arrived, they found five people stabbed -- including two dead on the scene -- after an apparent fight. All five knew each other, Russo said. A man is in custody and is being questioned by police.

 

Sources say there was a baby in the house who was not harmed. Sources also tell CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli that the fight may have been triggered by a boyfriend of one of the family members.

 

The victims were identified as Allen Engelhardt, 57; Marlene Gacek, 73; and Laura Engelhardt, 18. Allen Engelhardt was Laura's father. Marlene Gacek was Laura's grandmother.

 

Sources said the man being questioned is the boyfriend of another family member, who was not injured.

 

"When police arrived we did find five stabbing victims," Russo said. "Two were confirmed dead at the scene. Three were various degrees of injury; they were transported to area hospitals. There were people in the home that were not injured."

 

The Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed Friday afternoon that Laura Engelhardt died at the hospital. She was a senior at Conant High School.

 

The school posted the following statement on its Web site Friday: "I cannot express the depth of sadness that the entire Conant High School community is experiencing at this time.

 

"Our hearts go out to those impacted by this tragic event. Conant High School and District 211 personnel will be doing all we can to assist students, staff, and community members during this time."

 

The weapon was either a knife or sharp tool, according to Russo, who said it was not known whether weapons were recovered. Russo declined to say where in the ranch style home the victims were discovered, and said there were people still inside who were not stabbed.

 

No signs of forced entry were found and the incident was not a home invasion, he said.

 

"We have no idea what premeditated this or if it was premeditated,'' Russo said. Though he declined to say how long the victims were dead and injured, he said the incident occurred early Friday.

 

Guns were not found inside the home and police are "very confident" that the offender is among the survivors, Russo said. "There is no danger to the community."

 

The surviving victims were initially placed under police watch when they were taken to hospitals, because one was considered a suspect.

 

Sources say there was a baby in the house who was not harmed. Sources also tell CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli that the fight may have been triggered by a young woman and her boyfriend, and many of the victims may be that young woman's family members.

 

Family goes to the church where I work. My sister went to school with the brother of the deceased 18 year old. Good family. Nice people. Needless death.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Athomeboy_2000

[ChWRoCk2]

Its just a shame, at a loss for words.

 

Jeff Engelhardt is a good friend of mine and I knew his family well. All really nice people, shocked this happened, even Howard seemed normal when I had met him once.

Edited April 19, 2009 by ChWRoCk2

[Steve9347]

My buddy grew up with the accused at Maryville. Weird.