No bond for Waukegan murder suspect

A restraining order, acknowledged lawyer John Karnezis, is just a piece of paper that no one should ever expect to offer absolute protection.

But it, and specifically the Waukegan Police Department, should have done more for Adelina Weber, Karnezis said Thursday in announcing a lawsuit against the department.

Adelina Weber's family and Karnezis accuse the police of failing to arrest her husband, Clarence Weber, when they had both probable cause and a duty to do so. Had they done so, they contend, Adelina Weber might still be alive today. Instead, she was stabbed to death Sunday, and Clarence Weber is charged with her murder.

The police department declined to comment on the specific allegations, saying it hadn't yet seen the suit, but it expressed sympathy for Adelina Weber's family.

Two Waukegan police officers on May 6 "saw on a wall, scribbled in red crayon, a threat to Adelina" after a protective order had been issued, said Karnezis, of Clifford Law Offices. "They said, 'Don't worry about it, he's drunk.'"

The threat, according to Karnezis and the family, read: "Now everything is going to end. But this time I'm going to keep the kids out of this. I needed help and you didn't give it to me. You forgot I love you. Clarence."

Because a protective order had been issued May 5, officers should have immediately arrested Clarence Weber, Karnezis said. The officers were in the home on a protective escort, accompanying Adelina so she could remove some of her belongings.

Additionally, when the home burned down within 12 hours after that visit under suspicious circumstances, another alarm bell should have gone off for police, Karnezis maintained.

Weber was in Loyola Hospital immediately after the fire and could have easily been taken into custody there, Karnezis said.

Whether the fire was investigated by police is a matter of contention.

"My understanding is that no questioning (of Clarence Weber) took place," said Karnezis.

But that would seem to conflict with statements Waukegan police Chief William Biang made on July 7, saying the department had questioned Clarence Weber about the fire and burns he received from it.

On May 8, the day after the fire, the family contends that Adelina went to the Waukegan police station with sister Ofelia Trujillo to inquire about the whereabouts of Clarence because they feared for their safety. They were stonewalled by a uniformed officer, said Trujillo. The officer said the department had an overload of cases just like hers, Trujillo said Thursday.

Ofelia Trujillo, speaking through the interpretation of her sister-in-law Cynthia Trujillo, told reporters she responded to the officer, "What do you want? For my sister to be dead?"

The officer then told both of them to leave the police station, Ofelia said.

After that attempt at the police station, Adelina Weber continued to be stalked and harassed, said Karnezis, although he did not elaborate.

On July 5, police have said, Adelina Weber arranged to meet her estranged husband, whom she was in the process of divorcing, after receiving a note from him.

Whether or not Adelina had agreed to meet Clarence Weber, even though she had an active order of protection against him, should make no difference, contended Karnezis.

"Look at - the circumstances that she's presented with. She's gone to the police; they failed to intervene. Now he's out and pursuing her and at her place of business. Are you going to then take an additional risk of possibly invoking the wrath of the person who has immediate access to you, or are you going to agree to meet with him and hope that he's reasonable? I'm certain that it was her most sincere hope that he was going to be reasonable. That's not how it worked out," he said.

Although Adelina Weber knew Clarence Weber had served time - she noted his six years in prison in applying for her order of protection - she was unaware of the charges that caused him to go to prison, Karnezis said. Those charges were attempted murder of his former wife and arson, authorities have said.

"The City of Waukegan and the Waukegan Police Department is sorry for the family's loss," said Chief William Biang in a prepared statement Thursday. "At this time, it is too early to comment on the allegations made against the police department as we have not yet received a copy of the complaint nor had an opportunity to investigate the factual allegations and legal implications of such. Nonetheless, our sympathy goes out to Adelina's family."