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Dead Woman's Family Sues Waukegan Police
The family of a murdered north suburban woman is blaming her violent death on a lack of action by Waukegan police for failed to protect her from her estranged husband, now accused of fatally stabbing her.
In a statement issued by sister-in-law Cynthia Trujillo on Thursday, the family says Adelina Weber and other family members tried to tell Waukegan police that her husband, Clarence Weber Jr., was a threat to her, but they ignored calls for help despite a court-issued order of protection.
Trujillo said the family has turned to the legal system because the law enforcement system did not work for Adelina.
Trujillo, on behalf of the family, filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court in Waukegan against Police Chief William Biang and the City of Waukegan.
A statement from the Waukegan Police Department said its too early to comment.
"The City of Waukegan and the Waukegan Police Department is sorry for the family's loss," according to the statement issued Thursday afternoon. "At this time it is too early to comment on the allegations made against the police department as we have not yet received a copy of the complaint nor had an opportunity to investigate the factual allegations and legal implications of such."
The suit claims Adelina Weber obtained a court order of protection on May 5. Police were in the family's far north suburban home on May 6 when they observed a note signed by Clarence Weber in big letters on the kitchen wall that said, "Now everything is going to end. But this time I'm going to keep the kids out of this. I needed your help and you didn't give it to me. You forgot I love you. Clarence."
The family claims the officers took no action, according to the suit.
The couple's residence on North Lewis Avenue, in Waukegan, was partially destroyed by fire on May 27, a blaze reported by the Waukegan Fire Department as a possible arson, Clifford Law Offices spokeswoman Pamela Menaker said.
The suit also claims Clarence Weber stalked his wife for several weeks prior to her death and sent her threatening written notes.
Adelina Weber, 31, was pronounced dead at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville at 3 p.m. Saturday, about an hour after she staggered into Springhill Suites Marriott hotel off Milwaukee and Marriott Drive, just south of Half Day Road in Lincolnshire.
She had just finished waiting tables at the Walker Bros. pancake house when she was attacked. She made it to the lobby of the hotel, where she collapsed.
The family's complaint alleges the police department and Biang took no action to investigate her husband or protect her, the release said. The complaint claims police had a duty to arrest Clarence Weber upon learning of a violation of the protection order and to arrange for Adelina's transportation to a safe place under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Adelina Weber's family said they hope the lawsuit will demonstrate the need for police to do their job, the statement said. Adelina Weber is survived by three children.
A judge on Thursday denied bond for Clarence Weber, 58, arrested Tuesday in northwest Indiana. He was taken into custody three days after he allegedly attacked his wife because he was upset that she had filed for divorce and had obtained the order of protection. [Read More On Weber's Bond Hearing]
Weber -- who served prison time in Florida for attempting to kill his first wife in 1989 -- could face a death sentence if convicted of the first-degree murder charges he faces in the stabbing death of his second wife, State's Attorney Michael Waller said after the hearing.
While being questioned by police, Weber admitted he stabbed his wife when he became enraged while talking to her in the hotel parking lot, prosecutors said.
That meeting came just three days after Adelina Weber filed for divorce from her husband of six years. The couple had two children together, while Adelina Weber had another child from a previous relationship.
Clarence Weber Jr. is also named as a defendant in the civil suit.
Copyright 2008, Chicago Sun-Times Inc.
| Video: Police Failed To Protect Woman, Lawsuit Alleges | |
In a statement issued by sister-in-law Cynthia Trujillo on Thursday, the family says Adelina Weber and other family members tried to tell Waukegan police that her husband, Clarence Weber Jr., was a threat to her, but they ignored calls for help despite a court-issued order of protection.
Trujillo said the family has turned to the legal system because the law enforcement system did not work for Adelina.
Trujillo, on behalf of the family, filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court in Waukegan against Police Chief William Biang and the City of Waukegan.
A statement from the Waukegan Police Department said its too early to comment.
"The City of Waukegan and the Waukegan Police Department is sorry for the family's loss," according to the statement issued Thursday afternoon. "At this time it is too early to comment on the allegations made against the police department as we have not yet received a copy of the complaint nor had an opportunity to investigate the factual allegations and legal implications of such."
The suit claims Adelina Weber obtained a court order of protection on May 5. Police were in the family's far north suburban home on May 6 when they observed a note signed by Clarence Weber in big letters on the kitchen wall that said, "Now everything is going to end. But this time I'm going to keep the kids out of this. I needed your help and you didn't give it to me. You forgot I love you. Clarence."
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The couple's residence on North Lewis Avenue, in Waukegan, was partially destroyed by fire on May 27, a blaze reported by the Waukegan Fire Department as a possible arson, Clifford Law Offices spokeswoman Pamela Menaker said.
The suit also claims Clarence Weber stalked his wife for several weeks prior to her death and sent her threatening written notes.
Adelina Weber, 31, was pronounced dead at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville at 3 p.m. Saturday, about an hour after she staggered into Springhill Suites Marriott hotel off Milwaukee and Marriott Drive, just south of Half Day Road in Lincolnshire.
She had just finished waiting tables at the Walker Bros. pancake house when she was attacked. She made it to the lobby of the hotel, where she collapsed.
The family's complaint alleges the police department and Biang took no action to investigate her husband or protect her, the release said. The complaint claims police had a duty to arrest Clarence Weber upon learning of a violation of the protection order and to arrange for Adelina's transportation to a safe place under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
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A judge on Thursday denied bond for Clarence Weber, 58, arrested Tuesday in northwest Indiana. He was taken into custody three days after he allegedly attacked his wife because he was upset that she had filed for divorce and had obtained the order of protection. [Read More On Weber's Bond Hearing]
Weber -- who served prison time in Florida for attempting to kill his first wife in 1989 -- could face a death sentence if convicted of the first-degree murder charges he faces in the stabbing death of his second wife, State's Attorney Michael Waller said after the hearing.
While being questioned by police, Weber admitted he stabbed his wife when he became enraged while talking to her in the hotel parking lot, prosecutors said.
That meeting came just three days after Adelina Weber filed for divorce from her husband of six years. The couple had two children together, while Adelina Weber had another child from a previous relationship.
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Copyright 2008, Chicago Sun-Times Inc.
Copyright 2008 by NBC5.com. All rights reserved.
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