Attempted Murder Defendant Had Shotgun Near Victim's Home: Police

KANE COUNTY, IL — A former Batavia man charged with attempted murder was arrested with a shotgun last week near his intended victim’s home in Elburn, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. Frank E. Ryan, 33, now of Waterman, was arrested April 9 while out on bond.

Ryan was charged in Kane County court with possessing a firearm with a revoked Firearm Owners Identification, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and violating his bail bond, according to a news release from Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon. He was arrested earlier that day after police investigated a pickup truck stuck in mud behind a building in the 800 block of Hicks Drive in Elburn, the release states.

A tow-truck driver called to the area was suspicious of the truck’s location and notified Elburn police, who found a loaded shotgun inside the vehicle, according to prosecutors. Ryan was ordered to surrender any guns and his FOID card as a condition of his bond on attempted murder charges filed in January.

According to prosecutors, the home of Ryan’s intended victim in the attempted murder case was visible from the location of his truck in the 800 block of Hicks Drive.

Prosecutors allege Ryan tampered with a natural gas line on Jan. 19 by drilling a hole in the exposed gas line outside a home on Downing Street and drilling another hole through the home’s exterior wall. Ryan allegedly attached a tube to the gas line and placed the other end of the tube through the second hole and into the home.

Two people were inside the home at the time, but no one was injured, according to prosecutors.

Ryan was charged in January with two counts of attempted murder, criminal damage to property — all felonies — and two misdemeanor counts each of reckless conduct and battery. He was released after posting 10 percent of his $200,000 bail.

Ryan is currently being held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center in St. Charles in lieu of $1 million bail. He is due to next appear in court on May 7.