Lake County jail inmate punished for sending letter to victim
A Des Plaines man accused of repeatedly stabbing and slashing a co-worker outside a Deer Park movie theater in 2015 has been punished for sending a letter to the victim in an attempt to bribe her, authorities said Wednesday.
Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes revoked mail and phone privileges for Daniel Dion, 20, because, authorities say, he sent the letter to Katherine M. King, 25, from the Lake County jail.
Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Kalcheim-Rothenberg was not specific about what Dion is alleged to have written in the letter, but she said in court the letter attempted to dissuade King from attending future hearings in the case.
Dion's name was not used in the letter, Kalcheim-Rothenberg said, but it was signed "your past companion D." The return address on the letter is the Lake County jail, she said.
Defense attorney Ian Kasper said in court he had not studied the letter and was unsure whether Dion was the sender. He also said Dion should not have his phone privileges revoked because contact did not involve a telephone.
Kasper did not comment on the letter after court.
Kalcheim-Rothenberg said additional charges are possible against Dion because, as part of his bail, he was prohibited from having contact with the victim.
Dion remains held in Lake County jail without bail after pleading not guilty to charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public place.
Police said Dion stabbed King, of Vernon Hills, more than 20 times in the face and neck with a 4-inch serrated blade Jan. 8 at the Century Theater in Deer Park. He met her there under the ruse he wanted to go to a movie with her, but he later told police he intended to kill King because "she annoyed him," authorities said.
Dion repeatedly stabbed King in a car in the parking lot, but she was able to escape the vehicle and run into the theater for help, authorities said. She was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights for treatment of two punctured lungs and more than 20 slash and stab wounds, authorities said.
Dion was arrested outside the movie theater and taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington for treatment of cuts to his hands. He later was taken to the Lake County sheriff's office, where he confessed to the attack, authorities say.
Dion faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty of attempted murder, and up to 15 years in prison if convicted on any of the three aggravated battery charges.
Kasper said he intends to use an insanity defense for Dion.