Different versions of night offered

Conflicting versions of Alejandro De La Salle's actions the night a West Chicago girl was terrorized by an intruder in her bedroom emerged Friday in court.

De La Salle, 29, of West Chicago was charged with home invasion following an early morning break-in Oct. 9. He has pleaded innocent.

A man slashed a screen on the front window of a house on Elizabeth Avenue, climbed in and headed to the room of the 11-year-old. He grabbed the girl's head and tried to tape her mouth shut but fled when she started screaming.

Police allege De La Salle mistakenly thought he was in the home of an ex-girlfriend.

On the opening day of his trial, prosecutors pointed to a confession De La Salle made to detectives. Police witnesses testified he knew details about the crime scene an innocent person wouldn't be privy to, such as the fact the prowler left behind scissors, tape and a length of cord.

West Chicago Patrol Division Deputy Chief Bruce Malkin said De La Salle told him he felt "sad and angry " about breaking up with his girlfriend and said he "might have gone into the house."

Later, De La Salle told officers, "he left tape and a rubber cord," Malkin noted.

But forensic experts testified De La Salle's fingerprints weren't found at the girl's home. Four witnesses swore he was partying in Aurora until about 2 a.m. Oct. 9.

De La Salle and others had gathered at an Aurora banquet hall for a birthday celebration that ended midnight Oct. 8, witnesses said. Party organizers cleaned up until 1 a.m., went for drinks at a friend's house until roughly 2 a.m. then drove to West Chicago, which took around 20 minutes, several testified.

At that point, De La Salle was "so drunk he could hardly stand up," said Jose Luis Ortiz, an acquaintance of the defendant.

Prosecutor Helen Kapas-Erdman questioned the girl and her mother who described a harrowing night.

The single mother of four recalled awakening to hear a noise and then her youngest calling out in panic.

"I heard her scream and realized something was wrong," the woman said. "She was scared."

The little girl was found uninjured but terrified with tape on her face.

"She was shaking and crying," the mother said.

The little girl, now 12, remembered waking up after someone seized her forehead.

"He tried to put tape on me … on my mouth. I screamed," she said.

The bench trial before Judge Michael Burke is set to resume Sept. 26.