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Attorney trying to suppress Mundelein man's statement

A defense attorney is trying to suppress police statements made by a Mundelein man facing a first-degree murder charge for what authorities say was an intentional crash that killed a Round Lake Beach woman.

Attorney Elliot Pinsel filed the motion in Lake County court Wednesday to suppress statements Mark Oelerich, 23, made to police after the Nov. 24, 2012, crash that killed Araceli Villasenor, 25.

Prosecutors asked for three weeks to review the motion before responding.

Pinsel did not comment on the motions after the hearing.

Authorities have said Oelerich told police he was testing his immortality when he intentionally crossed the centerline and slammed a family member's Cadillac SUV into the vehicle driven by Villasenor.

Oelerich faces a single count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated driving under the influence for the crash on Cedar Lake Road near Route 120 in Round Lake on Thanksgiving night, authorities said.

If found guilty of murder, he could be sentenced up to 60 years in prison.

He remains held in Lake County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

After the crash, Villasenor and her three children were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

She was pronounced dead a short time later, but the children were treated and released.

Both sides are due back in court March 26. The case is tentatively due to go to trial May 2.

Oelerich also faces 10 counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and three counts of resisting arrest for fighting with jail guards the night of his arrest in 2012, authorities said.

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