FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014
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The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co. Brandon Saad
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Man gets 15 years for store arson Ex-employee admits to throwing Molotov cocktail into Algonquin business By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A former grocery store employee received the maximum prison sentence after admitting he threw a Molotov cocktail into a crowded Algonquin grocery store. Fabian Torres, 27, of Sleepy Hol-
low, pleaded guilty but mentally ill Thursday to attempted aggravated arson and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. After Torres threw a lit incendiary device, customers – including an off-duty Carpentersville police officer – chased him out of Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market and detained him in the parking lot until police
arrived, authorities have said. According to McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Johnston, Torres had been fired from or quit the grocery store about a month before the Aug. 21, 2011, incident. He had worked at the market for just under a year. Prosecutors agreed to reduce
Torres’ charge to attempted aggravated arson in exchange for his guilty plea and 15-year prison sentence. McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer approved the plea deal. While not a legal defense, a psychologist’s report found that Torres was mentally ill at the time he threw the lit glass bottle filled with
flammable liquid toward shoppers and store employees. “Everybody’s in agreement that he had acted in part because of mental illness,” Johnston said. Torres initially was charged with a Class X felony, which is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
See ARSON, page A6
Coroner: Man died of gunshot in back
STAYING SAFE WHILE SWIMMING
Brother remains in critical condition By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com
H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
Sage YMCA swim instructor Yuka Ryan leads her students through the water during a recent class in Crystal Lake. Stacey McNamara, aquatics director at Sage YMCA, said while she strongly encourages everyone to go through swimming lessons, there are some tips that could be a life saver in emergency situations. She said the worst habit she sees is people holding their breath under water.
Preventing danger in the water Pools and water parks pose unexpected risk for people enjoying warmer weather By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – While water can provide plenty of fun times during the summer, Stacey McNamara knows it also can be a source of great danger. McNamara, aquatics director at Sage YMCA, said she sees too many people unprepared for all the dangers any body of water can
pose. The county already has experienced the fatal consequences of water this year when a high school freshman drowned in April and an Algonquin man died after driving into a retention pond April 2. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported drowning as the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death
I feel there is a lack of respect for the water. People in general don't take the time to learn about the water and they take it for granted. But swimming is the only sport that will ever save your life." Stacey McNamara Aquatics director at Sage YMCA
See WATER SAFETY, page A6
HUNTLEY – The man who died following a domestic shooting in Huntley fell victim to a gunshot wound in the back, the Kane County Coroner’s office said Wednesday. News sent to Meanwhile, his your phone brother – believed to be the shootText the er – remained in keyword critical condition Thursday, still yet NWHHUNTLEY to interview with to 74574 to sign police about the up for HUNTLEY Memorial Day in- news text alerts from the Northcident. The coroner’s west Herald. d e t e r m i n a t i o n Message and – which differed data rates apply. from police’s original report that Robert Grundei, 48, died of shoulder and head wounds – doesn’t change the working theory of Monday evening’s events, Huntley Deputy Chief Michael Klunk said. Mark Grundei, 50, Robert’s brother, still is believed to be the man who pulled the trigger at least five times, killing his brother and injuring their mother before turning the gun on himself. Police have documents indicating that the gun – a .38 special revolver – belonged to Mark Grundei, Klunk said. Charges are yet to be filed in the matter, although Huntley authorities have been in contact with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Klunk said. “It’s still under investigation,” Klunk said Thursday. “We want to put all of our theories together and
See SHOOTING, page A6
LOCALLY SPEAKING
McHenry County’s
CRYSTAL LAKE
URBANSKI GETS 13TH IN SPELLING BEE Lucas Urbanski finished the Scripps National Spelling Bee with his highest ranking yet, but he failed to make the finals. Urbanski correctly spelled “epixylous” and “cataphora” during two semifinal rounds, but he didn’t score high enough on a computer-based test to advance to the finals. For more, see page B1.
Connor Deegan
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
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WOODSTOCK: Sleep study provides answers to 12-year-old’s behavioral and school problems. Local, B1 Herb Franks
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