Hospitalized Hoffman Estates stabbing victim improving
Shelly Engelhardt, who survived the deadly rampage in her Hoffman Estates home last Friday, is now listed in good condition at St. Alexius Medical Center and is expected to be released from the hospital this weekend, her son Jeff Engelhardt said Thursday.
While he did not provide details of his mom's injuries, Jeff said doctors do not expect her to have any permanent physical injures, despite being stabbed multiple times and entering the hospital in critical condition.
"She's been so strong through this," he said.
Shelly, 52, was tied up and stabbed during the melee in her home the morning of April 17. Shelly's husband of more than 25 years, Alan, as well as her mother, Marlene Gacek, 73, and her youngest daughter, Laura, 18, were fatally stabbed. She is aware of their deaths, Jeff said.
D'Andre "Dre" Howard, 20, the fiance of Shelly and Alan's 23-year-old daughter, Amanda, has been charged with three counts first degree murder in connection with their deaths. He is being held without bond in Cook County jail.
On Thursday, the Engelhardt's sprawling home on Bluebonnet Lane in Hoffman Estates was being cleaned out by men wearing blue hazmat suits and masks. Rolls of carpeting, pieces of furniture and black garbage bags full of items were being stacked up on the front lawn, alongside a makeshift memorial with three crosses and flower bouquets.
Jeff Engelhardt said thoughtful displays of sympathy and support like these have helped the family through this dark time.
"Every little thing, like Facebook messages and the memorial and little notes ... I can't even begin to tell you what that means," Jeff said. "That helps us more than they can ever know."
Funeral arrangements are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, although the plans have not yet been finalized, Jeff said.
"You'd think it'd become easier as time passes, but it's the opposite. As you come to terms with it more, it becomes harder. You notice the void more as each day passes," said Jeff, a junior at Southern Illinois University who was very close with his family, especially his sister Laura. "We're all just trying to support each other right now."
Two funds have been set up to help the family. Donations can be sent to the Englehardt Family Fund, c/o Heritage Bank of Schaumburg, 1535 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194. Checks should be made payable to St. Peter Lutheran Church, with "Engelhardt Family Fund" written in the memo area.
The other fund is the Engelhardt Memorial Fund, c/o the SIU Credit Union, 1217 W. Main St., Carbondale, IL 62901.