Burlington Township man accused of beating his father to death
A Burlington Township man is accused of beating his father to death, officials said Saturday.
Daniel M. Rak, 30, of the 13N000 block of Engel Road, is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated domestic battery in the February death of his 58-year-old father, Jeffrey Rak, according to a statement released Saturday by Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon.
Early on the morning of Feb. 14, emergency responders arrived at the Engel Road residence, where both the father and son lived. They found Jeffrey Rak with dried blood on his face, as well as bruising and swelling, and he had died from blunt head trauma, according to the statement.
Police believe the trauma occurred sometime between Feb. 11 and when emergency responders arrived, McMahon said, calling the death "an example of the most tragic result of domestic violence."
Daniel Rak was taken into custody about 5 p.m. Friday. His arrest was the culmination of a four-month investigation involving the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Major Crimes Task Force and medical and forensic experts.
Rak appeared in bond court Saturday morning and bail was set at $950,000, meaning he must post $95,000 to be released from jail while his trial is pending. He is next due in court June 10 before Judge James C. Hallock.
If convicted of first-degree murder, the most serious charge, Rak faces 20 to 60 years in prison.