Man accused in violent home intrusion

CASEYVILLE -- A man who police suspect pummeled an ex-girlfriend and stabbed her male acquaintance after making his way into her southwestern Illinois home was arrested after he came back to the scene.

Authorities say the two victims survived the pre-dawn stabbing in the house near Caseyville in St. Clair County.

Investigators say the male victim awakened to find the suspect standing next to the bed, and that the intruder then stabbed him repeatedly with a kitchen knife before beating the woman.

The suspect reportedly fled but was arrested about 90 minutes later when he returned.

Authorities say that the suspect kept trying to strangle himself with the seat belt as he was being driven to the county jail.

He's now held on suicide watch, pending the filing of charges.