Palatine man held on $5 million bond in wife's death

Albert Rumlow did not appear in a Rolling Meadows courtroom Friday for his bond hearing on a charge of murdering his wife. But that didn't stop the wheels of justice from continuing to turn, or Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon from setting a $5 million bond for Rumlow who police say murdered his wife and then tried to kill himself.

Palatine police charged Rumlow, 73, with first degree murder in the death of his 69-year-old wife, Janet, an active member of Palatine's Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. He remains in Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, recovering from self-inflicted stab wounds. Police say he tried to commit suicide after he stabbed his wife to death Wednesday in their Palatine home on the 1000 block of Grissom Drive.

Rumlow, who police say made an audiotape confession, is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 15 pending his release from the hospital.

Rumlow called 911 at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to report he had killed his wife, said Assistant State's Attorney Matt Fakhoury, during the bond hearing Friday afternoon. Janet Rumlow suffered stab wounds to her head, arms and torso, said Fakhoury. Albert Rumlow sustained stab wounds to his stomach and wrists, which required surgery.

Family members declined to comment on the case. Visitation for Janet Rumlow will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1190 N. Hicks Road, Palatine. For information, call (847) 358-7411.