Woman Hit With Rock: Attempted Murder Charge For Glenview Man

GLENVIEW, IL — A 61-year-old woman is recovering from injuries sustained Monday when she was struck in the head with a large rock by a Glenview man, according to police. Michael Stientjes, 26, of the 1000 block of Raleigh Road, Glenview, is accused of felony attempted murder and a misdemeanor charge of battery.

At around 10:11 a.m., police received a 911 call for a battery in the 1000 block of Raleigh Road, according to a news release. A male, who is a utility company employee working in the area, reported being pushed by a man, later identified as Stientjes, on the latter's property. The man said Stientjes attempted to smack tools out of his hands.

Two minutes later, police received another call regarding a man, later identified as Stientjes, hitting a woman with a rock at Waukegan Road and Glenview Road, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. The woman was walking to a nail salon. Stientjes began talking to the woman and then picked up a chair, held it over his head, and then began striking her with it. The two started to tussle when Stientjes began swinging the woman around, causing her to strike a tree. The woman cried for help, according to the CCSAO.

Stientjes then picked up a large landscaping rock — weighing 22 pounds — held it over his head, and threw it at the woman. It struck her in the head and caused her to fall to the ground, according to the CCSAO. Stientjes then stood over the woman, picked up the rock again and threw it in the direction of the woman, but it missed and hit the curb. Stientjes then picked up the rock again, when a witness was able to intervene and tackle him to the ground. Other people came to help as well and held Stientjes down until police arrived, according to the news release.

The woman was taken to Lutheran General Hospital unconscious and treated for severe head and facial injuries, including a skull fracture. She has since been released, according to police.

The male victim refused treatment at the scene.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Stientjes was involved in both attacks. It was also determined that he did not know either victim prior to the attacks and was unprovoked.

Police found Stientjes to be combative, scratching the officers and attempting to bite them. He was sedated on the scene by paramedics and taken to Glenbrook Hospital.

Stientjes was held at the hospital until his bond hearing Thursday at the Skokie Courthouse. Tandra R. Simonton, from the CCSAO, told Patch bond was set at $500,000 and the next court date is set for July 1.