Grayslake man charged with attempted murder in attack on girlfriend

A Grayslake man faces attempted murder charges after he attacked his girlfriend while reciting biblical passages, Grayslake Police officials said.

Stephen Irish, 23, of the 900 block of Chesapeake Boulevard, remains in custody in the Lake County jail on $2 million bond after choking his girlfriend Monday, Cmdr. Matt McCutcheon said.

Irish was indicted by a Lake County grand jury Thursday on attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery charges.

McCutcheon said police were called to the 900 block of Chesapeake at 3:12 a.m. regarding a domestic dispute. He said Irish was found reciting biblical passages when police arrived, and family members of Irish said he was off medication he was expected to take.

Irish was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for evaluations, McCutcheon said.

The 18-year-old female victim from Libertyville said Irish grabbed a large kitchen knife during the early morning argument and started reciting biblical passages about the knife being the sword of God, McCutcheon said. Irish pinned her down and choked her “without mercy,” McCutcheon said.

“She told officers that, as she was about to blackout, he told her he was going to kill her,” McCutcheon said. The victim refused medical care and assistance is finding temporary shelter, McCutcheon said.

After Irish was treated and released from Condell, he was taken to the Grayslake Police Department, where the Lake County State's Attorney's Office officially charged him with aggravated domestic battery, McCutcheon said.

Irish is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 9.