Authorities: Revenge for being called ugly spurs Naperville man to stab two
An 18-year-old Naperville man told police he repeatedly stabbed a female acquaintance's parents because he "was tired of being made fun of and being called ugly all his life," authorities said Wednesday.
Zachary Machnikowski, of the 1100 block of Spring Garden Circle, is being held without bail in DuPage County jail, charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder after breaking into the home of William and Mary Lenk on the 900 block of Iroquois Avenue and repeatedly stabbing them, authorities said. He also is charged with home invasion and residential burglary in the stabbing that occurred early Tuesday morning.
According to court documents, William Lenk called 911 at 1:25 a.m. saying he woke up "when he heard his wife screaming in the bed next to him and noticed (Machnikowski) was attacking his wife and him with a knife."
As officers were securing the Lenks' home, court records say, they noticed a blood trail traveling down the driveway and eastbound on Iroquois. A larger pool of blood was found in the driveway of another home on the 900 block of Iroquois.
As they were approaching the house, Machnikowski emerged from some nearby bushes yelling, "Officers, officers."
Documents indicate Machnikowski had attended a party earlier in the evening that was also attended by the Lenks' 16-year-old daughter and a female friend who was spending the night at the Lenks' house.
Machnikowski believed the daughter, who police said sneaked out of her house to attend the party, told another person at the gathering she thought Machnikowski was ugly.
He then left the party and entered the Lenks' home through a rear door, which he told authorities he knew would be open.
"He initially went to the home to steal liquor, but while he was inside he decided he wanted to hurt (the girl's) parents because he felt that since (she) had hurt him, hurting her parents would, in turn, hurt (her)," according to court documents. "He grabbed the biggest knife he could find from the knife block in the kitchen."
Mary Lenk and William Lenk were taken to Naperville's Edward Hospital. Mary was treated and released with five stab wounds to her head. William was released Wednesday afternoon after being treated for eight stab wounds to his head, face, back and hands.
During questioning, both Machnikowski and the daughter denied any relationship between them.
"(The daughter) ... stated that, although they sometimes were at the same parties with mutual friends, there was never any relationship between her and (Machnikowski)," records stated. "(Party attendees interviewed) denied any type of confrontation between (the daughter) and (Machnikowski) and denied telling (Machnikowski) that she said he was ugly or any other disparaging remark by (the daughter)."
Neighbor Kathleen Bessey, who lives two houses away from the Lenks, said police wouldn't answer questions Tuesday about what happened at the house, which was roped off with crime scene tape. She didn't hear or see anything suspicious until later in the day Tuesday when she left to run errands.
"It must have been early because I don't remember even hearing a siren or anything," Bessey said.
Machnikowski appeared briefly in bond court Wednesday morning and told the judge only that he works at a Wendy's restaurant. He was accompanied by a couple, identified by prosecutors as his grandparents. The couple declined to comment after the brief hearing.
His public defender, Wayne Brucar, asked that Machnikowski be held without bail until Thursday morning because the public defender's office already represents him on other cases that are pending and needs time to sort through all the information. Prosecutors want Machnikowski ordered held without bail for the duration of his case.
Prosecutor Tim Diamond said Machnikowski has three pending cases in juvenile court.
Judge Liam Brennan will consider setting bail for Machnikowski at 9 a.m. Thursday in courtroom 4010.
• Daily Herald staff writer Marie Wilson contributed to this report.