Bail to remain $500K for woman accused of arson, attempted murder in Aurora
A 19-year-old woman charged with arson and attempted murder after a mid-May house fire in Aurora will remain jailed on $500,000 bail.
A Kane County judge Wednesday denied a bond reduction for Dajah S. Tilis, in part, because Tilis is being treated for schizophrenia and there is no specified mental health facility for her to go to now. The judge left the door open to another motion to reduce Tilis' bail once a facility is found.
Tilis faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated arson in connection to a May 9 fire at her mother's house on the 1200 block of Fifth Street on the city's east side.
Prosecutors say Tilis started the fire knowing a 15-year-old girl was inside, and that Tilis removed the knob on the basement door in an effort to trap the teen. A passerby saw the fire and called authorities, who heard cries for help when they arrived and pulled the girl from the house. The residence has since been declared uninhabitable.
The 15-year-old was taken to a hospital for minor injuries.
Wednesday, defense attorney Liam Dixon argued to have Tilis' bail reduced, saying she is "stable," on medication for schizophrenia, does not pose a danger to her mother and the victim, and that the family could post $10,000 as bond.
Under Tilis' current bail of $500,000, she would need to post $50,000 to be released from jail while the charges were pending.
Dixon added Tilis was willing to check herself into a mental health facility, and she had been released from a Des Plaines-area facility May 6, less than a week before the fire.
"She is on medication. She is stable," said Dixon, who also noted his client tested positive for COVID-19.
Judge Alice Tracy said she had "severe concerns" for the victim and wanted a "much more concrete plan" for Tilis' care if she were to be released into a mental health facility.
"If (the victim) hadn't got out of the basement that was on fire, who knows what would have happened," Tracy said.
If convicted of aggravated arson, Tilis faces a sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison with no chance for probation. She is next due in court July 13, when Dixon could again argue for a reduced bond, provided a mental health facility can be found for Tilis.