Casino stabbing suit moved to Kane County

The estate of an Elgin woman killed in a Christmas Eve stabbing at the Grand Victoria Casino has filed a lawsuit claiming casino security could have prevented the tragedy.

Casino employee Ana Sanchez, 34, was slain as she walked with several co-workers in a parking deck the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2006. The primary murder suspect - Sanchez's estranged husband Eduardo - committed suicide about a day later.

According to the lawsuit, Sanchez's husband never should have been allowed on casino grounds because her employer knew Sanchez had an order of protection against him. The riverboat casino, at 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, also lacked "appropriate security policy so as to prevent the admission of knowingly dangerous individuals like Eduardo Sanchez" the suit says.

Sanchez's estate seeks damages of more than $50,000. The lawsuit, filed by an estate administrator, names the casino and several related gaming entities as defendants. It originally was filed in Cook County Circuit Court in 2007 but was moved to Kane County this week.

Defense attorney Bruce Wall said Friday that no one authorized to discuss the lawsuit on behalf of the casino would be available for comment until Monday. The plaintiff's attorney, Colin Dunn, could not be reached.

Sanchez is survived by two children who are minors, according to the lawsuit. Her husband hanged himself from a tree behind a Moline business park on Christmas Day 2006, police have said. He never was charged with the homicide.