A terrifying scene unfolded Monday night on a Chicago train, leaving a 26-year-old woman fighting for her life after being deliberately set ablaze. The attack sparked immediate investigation, quickly focusing on a 50-year-old man with a deeply troubled past.
This individual, now a person of interest in the case, carries a staggering history of encounters with the law. Records reveal a pattern of arrests stretching back decades, beginning in 1993 and escalating in recent years.
Since 2016 alone, he’s been arrested 22 times, facing a total of 53 criminal cases within Cook County. Despite numerous charges, including nine felonies resulting in guilty pleas, only two convictions led to actual jail time – a startling disparity.
Just months ago, in August, he was accused of a violent act at a psychiatric hospital, allegedly knocking a female social worker unconscious. Prosecutors argued for his detention, citing the severity of the alleged assault and potential danger to the public.
However, a judge controversially released him, placing him on electronic monitoring with strict limitations. He was confined to his home, permitted to leave only between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays – restrictions that ultimately proved insufficient to prevent further tragedy.
The train attack itself unfolded around 9:25 p.m. Monday. An argument between the man and the young woman escalated into a brutal physical altercation. He then doused her with a liquid and ignited it, turning the train car into a scene of horror.
The suspect immediately fled as the train came to a halt. The woman, engulfed in flames, managed to exit the train but collapsed onto the platform. Quick-thinking bystanders and arriving first responders worked to extinguish the fire before it could cause even more devastating harm.
She was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, suffering severe burns. As of Tuesday, her condition remained precarious, and updates were unavailable, leaving the city holding its breath for news of her recovery.
The man was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, but no charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The identities of both the man and the judge who released him are currently being withheld.
