Lisle man gets 10 years for stabbing stranger

A 19-year-old Lisle man who admitted to wandering into a house party and stabbed a sleeping teenager without provocation was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Ryne D. McGovern pleaded guilty but mentally ill to attempted murder in June. His sentence was handed down Friday. McGovern will have to serve at least 85 percent of it, said Prosecutor Mike Pawl, who asked DuPage County Judge Kathryn Creswell to impose a 20-year term.

The victim was Robert McGrath, who was 19 at the time and lived in the house. He didn't know his attacker. He told Creswell that he was still struggling with the attack.

“I am starting to feel like my life is somewhat normal again, but I know that I will never be the same because of what (McGovern) did to me, McGrath said.

McGovern wandered uninvited into the house on the 5000 block of Queens Cove near Lisle on Aug. 10, 2008. Authorities said an underage drinking party was taking place.

McGovern found McGrath sleeping on the couch and stabbed him seven times. McGrath suffered wounds to his neck, arms, chest and abdomen in the attack.

“I had staples all over my body covering the seven stab wounds, McGrath said.

McGovern told police in a videotaped confession that he didn't target McGrath, but that “just wanted to kill someone. McGovern has a history of mental illnesses, authorities said.

McGrath told Creswell that he awoke in the hospital from a drug-induced coma not knowing what had happened and why he couldn't immediately move. McGrath said he spent eight days in the hospital and had trouble adjusting when he went home.

“Emotionally, it was very difficult to sleep in the room where I was stabbed, he said.

McGovern will have to spend at least six years and four months more behind bars, but will receive increased counseling and treatment while incarcerated. He receives credit for the two years and two months he has served in the DuPage County jail in Wheaton since the attack.