Police seek women who were with Skoien during attack by wife

Police want to talk to the two women who witnessed a reported domestic battery at the Inverness home of Palatine Township Republican Committeeman Gary Skoien.

But Barrington-Inverness police said Skoien, whose wife Eni has been charged with beating him, has not provided them with the names of the women.

According to the police report, Eni Skoien became enraged and attacked her husband early Sunday morning when she discovered him with two prostitutes.

The police report said Gary Skoien acknowledged to authorities that the women were prostitutes. But he later denied that and tried unsuccessfully to have the report changed.

Barrington-Inverness Police Chief Jeff Lawler reiterated Friday that the department stands by the report.

Furthermore, the department is eager to speak with the women, not to build a prostitution case but in their role as witnesses in the domestic battery case against Eni Skoien. The women had left the home by the time police arrived.

"Ordinarily, our victims supply us with the names of witnesses," Lawler said.

A prostitution case is unlikely, in any event, unless a police officer actually witnesses a solicitation of sex for money, Lawler added. Both women had left the premises before police arrived Sunday.

According to the report, 36-year-old Eni Skoien came home about 1:15 a.m. Sunday and, after discovering the women in the home, struck Gary Skoien, 55, with a closed fist and several times with a toy guitar. The beating left him bloodied, police said.

Charged with misdemeanor domestic battery, Eni Skoien is expected in court Thursday, March 19, in Rolling Meadows.

Earlier this week, Gary Skoien said he and his wife have been estranged and living in separate parts of the home they share with their three children, ages 5, 7 and 8.

Following Sunday's incident, Gary Skoien petitioned for and received an order of protection barring his wife from their home and from contacting him or their children for 21 days.

Neither Gary Skoien nor his attorney could be reached for comment Friday.