Lombard man charged in knife attack on family

Three months after Jayne Rood sought a divorce from her husband, authorities allege he attacked his estranged wife and their teenage daughter with a knife in their Lombard home.

Christopher S. Rood, 45, was ordered held Monday on a $2 million bond on home invasion and aggravated domestic battery charges. Prosecutors said they'll also likely pursue an attempted first-degree murder charge at indictment.

Authorities allege an armed Rood broke through a basement window about 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the home on the 100 block of West Lemoyne Street in Lombard. He is accused of repeatedly stabbing his wife and their daughter, Molly, 18, before fleeing in his car toward Wheaton, where he had been renting an apartment along Roosevelt Road since the separation.

Police were summoned.

"The two victims were able to identify the offender," said Dane Cuny, Lombard deputy police chief. "The officers quickly put out a local dispatch. Wheaton police were watching near his home. They observed his vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. The suspect fled on foot. He was arrested shortly thereafter."

In bond court Monday, Prosecutor Michael Pawl said Rood confessed to police to having stabbed his wife, with whom the defendant said he was "angry." Authorities declined to say if they recovered the knife, but Cuny did say police found incriminating items in the impounded car.

Jayne Rood, a 45-year-old teacher, remained hospitalized late Monday at an area hospital. Authorities said she was listed in critical condition but is expected to survive. The couple's daughter was released.

Police said it wasn't the first time they were called to the home. Court records showed a stormy relationship in recent months.

The former couple married July 25, 1987. They have three children, ages 20, 18, and 15.

In May, Jayne Rood sought an emergency order of protection against her husband. The court document, though, is sealed from public inspection. One month later, she filed for divorce, alleging "extreme and repeated mental cruelty."

In July, Christopher Rood was granted supervised visitation with his children. He argued his condition had improved after serving about 20 days stint in a hospital psychiatric ward, according to court records.

The former couple was due back in divorce court Oct. 10. His divorce attorney, Anthony Conniff, said Rood seemed in good spirits. Despite the couple's recent troubles, Conniff said nothing specific foretold the violence that police say unfolded early Sunday.

"I've known him a long time and he's always been a gentleman," Conniff said. "I just talked to him last week. He seemed upbeat. If there's any truth to (the allegations), it's absolutely tragic and shocking."

Conniff said Rood had not contacted him yet regarding legal representation for the alleged attack.

Christopher Rood, who operates his own woodwork company, did not have a criminal record. He was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery in 2004 and 2005, but both cases were dismissed after his accuser failed to appear in court. Neither case involved his wife.

Rood is scheduled to appear Oct. 27 before DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella for arraignment. He must post the required 10 percent of the $2 million bond to be set free. Rood remained in the DuPage County jail late Monday.