Officials: Man stabbed woman because she 'annoyed him'

Using the ruse of going to see a movie together, an 18-year-old Des Plaines man attacked a co-worker with a combat knife outside the Century Theater at Deer Park Town Center because he said she "annoyed him," authorities said.

Daniel J. Dion is held without bail after he confessed to authorities that he stabbed 24-year-old Katherine M. King of Vernon Hills at least 20 times in the face and neck, Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Curtis Gregory said in a news release Friday.

King also suffered two punctured lungs in the attack, the release stated.

Gregory said Dion used a combat knife with a 4-inch serrated blade to attack King. The primary function of that knife is self-defense, he said.

"The information I received from the detective was that he (Dion) woke up at 10 a.m. and decided he was going to kill her," Gregory said. "This was a very savage attack inside the car. He really went after her."

Sheriff's deputies were called to the theater on the 21000 block of West Field Parkway at 8:45 p.m. Thursday on a report of a woman suffering from numerous stab wounds. King was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where she remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit, Gregory said.

Dion was found a short time later and was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington for treatment of cuts to his hands, Gregory said.

After receiving medical care, Dion was taken to the Lake County sheriff's office, where he confessed to attacking King inside her vehicle in the parking lot, Gregory said.

Dion told detectives he met with King under the ruse they would be going to a movie together. He also told detectives he woke up with the intent to kill King because she annoyed him, Gregory said.

The two worked together in some capacity, Gregory said, but he would not say where they were employed.

King was able to escape from the car and run into the theater lobby for help, Gregory said.

Dion is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public way.

"We will actively cooperate with the Lake County sheriff's office and make resources available as they conduct their ongoing investigation," said Matt Schuler, director of communications for DDR Corp., which owns and manages Deer Park Town Center. "Our thoughts are with those affected by this event."

Dion is due back in court Feb. 2 for a preliminary bond hearing.