PREPEXTRA EXTRA Satu rday, September 19, 2015 • $1.00
NORTHWEST
HERALD
Dundee-Crown.....24 Prairie Ridge........ 48
Alden-Hebron.........0 Chicago Hope.......28
Jacobs ....................42 Grayslake C.............0
Cary-Grove............34 Woodstock N..........0
Harvard ...........6 p.m. Burlington C. ..... Sat.
CL South .........6 p.m. CL Central........... Sat.
Nazareth Ac.......... 19 Marian Cen. ..........34
North Boone .........27 Johnsburg............. 50
Huntley. ......... 11 a.m. Hampshire. ....... Sat.
Woodstock......1 p.m. McHenry............. Sat.
Marengo ..........1 p.m. Rich.-Burton ...... Sat.
HIGH
68 46 LOW
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Man charged in father’s slaying Officials: 69-year-old man found with gunshot wound to head in home near McHenry By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com McHENRY – A 46-yearold McHenry man has been charged with murder and hiding his father’s death after police found a 69-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head in a home near McHenry, officials announced Friday.
McHenry County Sheriff’s police found the body of Daniel Bakker in his home in the 2500 block of Alton Road near McHenry and McCullom Lake when they were called there about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, according to news releases from McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team Cmdr. John Birk and McHenry County Coroner Anne Ma-
jewski. Sheriff’s police found the circumstances surrounding the death suspicious and contacted MIAT officials to investigate. After McHenry police processed the scene, officials said they issued a warrant for Michael L. Bakker for concealing a death, a Class 4 felony. Majewski said Michael L. Bakker is Daniel Bakker’s son.
The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, Lake Geneva police, Walworth County Sheriff’s police and MIAT officials arrested Bakker, of the 5000 block of west McCullom Lake Road, Friday morning in Wisconsin without incident, police said. He was taken to the Walworth County Jail where he was awaiting extradition to
the McHenry County Jail. In the hours after his arrest, Majewski performed an autopsy, which revealed Daniel Bakker died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Majewski would not comment on how long Daniel Bakker had been dead before police discovered his body. Bakker did not have any other injuries, including de-
fensive wounds, Majewski said. “There was nothing else significant,” Majewski said. After reviewing Majewski’s findings, evidence and statements with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, police issued a second warrant for Michael Bakker
See DEATH, page A4
County veterans agency reopens
SUPPORTERS REACT AFTER MARIO CASCIARO’S MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED
Liability insurance covering commission By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com
chael Combs said Thursday, “We are disappointed, and we disagree with the decision, and we plan on filing an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.” “We do not believe the Illinois Supreme Court will look twice at this case,” Zellner said, adding that Casciaro should be released immediately.
WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission is again open for business after getting assurances that county government’s liability insurance still is covering its employees. The VAC voluntarily suspended most of its services on Monday in the wake of a legal opinion that concluded the county cannot provide it with the support it has relied on since its 1989 inception without an intergovernmental agreement in place. Shuttle services to take veterans to their medical appointments at James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago will resume next week, and the VAC is again processing veterans’ benefit claims, Superintendent Mike Iwanicki said. “[Deputy County Administrator] Scott Hartman worked some magic and was able to determine with their [insurance] carriers that we’re covered under the county for now,” Iwanicki said. But while the VAC will continue to be covered under the county for most insurance needs, it must get its own workers’ compensation insurance. Iwanicki said he expected that to be formalized Friday in time for his drivers to hit the road on Monday.
See CASCIARO, page A4
See VETERANS, page A4
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Eugene Casciaro (left) and his father, Gerry Casciaro, leave a news conference Friday in Downers Grove. The event addressed the overturned conviction of Mario Casciaro on Thursday. The 2nd District Appellate Court reversed the verdict, ruling the state failed to prove Casciaro’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Attorney working to free Casciaro By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com DOWNERS GROVE – Signs held by friends, family and supporters of Mario Casciaro in a news conference Friday made their message clear – they want Casciaro released from prison as soon as possible. About 30 people filled the conference room holding signs reading “Free Mario now” and “Mario
SPORTS
wrongfully convicted.” Casciaro, who was once convicted of first-degree murder, could now walk free. A jury found Casciaro, 32, guilty of murdering 17-year-old Brian Carrick. Carrick last was seen Dec. 20, 2002, at the Johnsburg grocery store where he worked, which also was owned by Casciaro’s parents. A ruling by the 2nd District Appellate Court reversed the verdict
Thursday because they said evidence was so lacking and improbable that the state failed to prove Casciaro’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Kathleen Zellner, Casciaro’s attorney, held a news conference Friday and said “our plan is to get him out as quickly as possible.” Zellner said Casciaro is being held at Menard Correctional Center. McHenry County Prosecutor Mi-
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