Judge to decide fate of woman accused of trying to kill ex-husband
Defense attorneys say a Schaumburg woman with a long history of mental illness was in the throes of an "acute psychotic episode" when she is accused of trying to run down her former husband two years ago.
Anna Derose, 46, was legally insane the evening of April 21, 2016, and unable "to appreciate the criminality of her actions," said Cook County assistant public defender Joe Gump during Friday's closing arguments before Cook County Judge Joel Greenblatt.
Prosecutors disagreed. Cook County assistant state's attorney Kristin Piper said Derose's "intent was crystal clear" when she drove to her former husband's Roselle home, threatened him and "chased him in her car which she used as a deadly weapon."
Derose is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, resisting a police officer and criminal damage to property.
Greenblatt will announce his finding June 14.
Dr. Erick Neu of Forensic Clinical Services and another clinical psychologist diagnosed Derose with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Derose, who was treated for postpartum depression after the births of her children and has a history of mental illness, suffered from paranoia and delusions, Neu said.
She and her husband were divorced in 2013 after 18 years of marriage, Gump said. Her former husband was awarded custody of their minor children and Derose was prohibited from contacting them, according to Gump.
"On April 21, the urge to see her children became overwhelming," Gump said.
When she saw her ex-husband exiting his garage with his arms raised, Derose suffered a panic attack, Gump said. She did not intend to hit him, Gump added, saying "she could have easily caught up to him and killed him."
Cook County assistant state's attorney Denise Loiterstein described Derose as "enraged" and pointed out that she struck her ex-husband in 2011, bloodying his nose. According to prosecutors, he received a 2015 order of protection after Derose showed up at his home at 2 a.m.
"Her actions were purposeful. She drove right at him," Loiterstein said. "One trip and he would have been dead and this would have been a murder trial."