A member of our IDF family was murdered Options

[proudnewyorker82]

My world has come crashing down, this person was my best friend on IDF, my life is going to be so empty without her, I'm speechless.

Her name was Laura, she went by the username, JPL Fan 4ever

http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?DNA-to-be-ta...&feedID=209

DNA to be taken from Hoffman Estates suspect


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George Houde

April 20, 2009


Prosecutors won permission today to obtain DNA samples from the Hoffman Estates man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend's father, sister and grandmother Friday in an attack that also critically injured her mother.

DNA from D'Andre Howard, 20, will be compared with bloody palm and fingerprints as well as footprints found in the home, prosecutors this morning told Cook County Circuit Judge Jill Marisie at a brief hearing this morning in the Rolling Meadows courthouse.

The palm and fingerprints were found on a bloody kitchen knife, said Assistant State's Atty. Maria McCarthy, adding the bloody footprints were found throughout the house.

Some of the blood could be Howard's as he was also injured, authorities said.

In a hearing over the weekend, prosecutors had said that Howard became enraged after his girlfriend walked out on him with their child. At that time, he was ordered held without bail in what prosecutors called a potential death-penalty case.

The episode began, prosecutors said, when Howard and his girlfriend, Amanda Engelhardt, 23, got into a heated argument Thursday night over Howard's alleged infidelities. Engelhardt left the apartment with their 8-month-old and went to her family's home a few blocks away.

Most of the eight people there were sleeping when Howard showed up at 1:30 a.m. Friday, prosecutors said. Soon the couple began arguing again -- waking those sleeping above the first-floor family room.

Concerned about the noise, mother Shelly Engelhardt, 53, crept downstairs with her 18-year-old honor student daughter, Laura Engelhardt. As the two approached the family room, Howard confronted them with a butcher knife he'd taken from the kitchen, prosecutors said. He threatened all three women before tying them up with yarn as they sat on a couch, authorities added.

A few minutes later Amanda Engelhardt's aunt -- whom authorities did not identify -- came downstairs. After telling the aunt to join the others on the couch, Howard inexplicably decided to untie them, prosecutors said. He set down the knife and untied Laura Engelhardt first. Prosecutors said as Howard untied his girlfriend, her sister Laura decided to defend her family.

Prosecutors laid out a quick chain of events: Laura Engelhardt grabbed the knife and slashed Howard's arm, but he got it back and stabbed her several times. As she lay bleeding, Howard critically wounded Shelly Engelhardt, stabbing her in the heart and lungs. Next, Howard found grandmother Marlene Gacek, 73, in the kitchen and fatally stabbed her in the chest as she tried to get away. Howard then killed the father, Alan Engelhardt, 57, slashing his throat before he collapsed in the family room near his seriously injured wife and daughter, prosecutors said.

Howard returned to the family room, where his girlfriend, who was not injured, convinced him to let her call police. When officers arrived about 6 a.m., they found Alan Engelhardt and Gacek dead and Laura Engelhardt critically wounded, police said. Before she died about noon Friday in a hospital, she identified Howard as the attacker, police said.

Steve Herczeg, an assistant public defender, said Howard suffers mental health problems, has a history of juvenile delinquency and was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse as a juvenile in 2004.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...0,5767494.story

Hoffman Estates stabbings: Couple's fight led to fatal attack, prosecutors say
Couple's fight led to Hoffman Estates attack, officials say
By George Houde | Special to the Tribune
8:55 PM CDT, April 18, 2009
Enraged that his girlfriend walked out on him with their child, a Hoffman Estates man fatally stabbed the woman's father, sister and grandmother and critically injured her mother during a bloody attack outlined by prosecutors Saturday.

Cook County Circuit Judge Samuel Betar ordered D'Andre Howard, 20, held without bail following the hearing in Rolling Meadows on what prosecutors said is a potential death penalty case.

The episode began, prosecutors said, when Howard and his girlfriend, Amanda Engelhardt, 23, got into a heated argument Thursday night over Howard's alleged infidelities. Engelhardt left the apartment with their 8-month-old and went to her family's home a few blocks away.

Most of the eight people there were sleeping when Howard showed up at 1:30 a.m. Friday, prosecutors said. Soon the couple began arguing again—waking those sleeping above the first-floor family room.



Related links
Charges in slayings of teen, dad, grandma Concerned about the noise, mother Shelly Engelhardt, 53, crept downstairs with her 18-year-old honor student daughter, Laura Engelhardt. As the two approached the family room, Howard confronted them with a butcher knife he'd taken from the kitchen, prosecutors said. He threatened all three women before tying them up with yarn as they sat on a couch, authorities added.

A few minutes later Amanda Engelhardt's aunt—whom authorities did not identify—came downstairs. After telling the aunt to join the others on the couch, Howard inexplicably decided to untie them, prosecutors said. He set down the knife and untied Laura Engelhardt first. Prosecutors said as Howard untied his girlfriend, her sister Laura decided to defend her family.

Prosecutors laid out a quick chain of events: Laura Engelhardt grabbed the knife and slashed Howard's arm, but he got it back and stabbed her several times. As she lay bleeding, Howard critically wounded Shelly Engelhardt, stabbing her in the heart and lungs. Next, Howard found grandmother Marlene Gacek, 73, in the kitchen and fatally stabbed her in the chest as she tried to get away. Howard then killed the father, Alan Engelhardt, 57, slashing his throat before he collapsed in the family room near his seriously injured wife and daughter, prosecutors said.

Howard returned to the family room, where his girlfriend, who was not injured, convinced him to let her call police. When officers arrived about 6 a.m., they found Alan Engelhardt and Gacek dead and Laura Engelhardt critically wounded, police said. Before she died about noon Friday in a hospital, she identified Howard as the attacker, police said.

On Saturday, Jeff Engelhardt, 20, a junior at Southern Illinois University, said his mother, Shelly, remained hospitalized and was conscious but not talking much.

Steve Herczeg, an assistant public defender, said Howard suffers mental health problems, has a history of juvenile delinquency and was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse as a juvenile in 2004.

"He seemed pretty normal," Jeff Engelhardt said of Howard. "There would be arguments, but there didn't seem to be any indication that a violent incident could take place."

Tribune reporter Susan Kuczka contributed to this report.

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Enraged that his girlfriend walked out on him with their child, a Hoffman Estates man fatally stabbed the woman's father, sister and grandmother and critically injured her mother during a bloody attack outlined by prosecutors Saturday.

Cook County Circuit Judge Samuel Betar ordered D'Andre Howard, 20, held without bail following the hearing in Rolling Meadows on what prosecutors said is a potential death penalty case.

The episode began, prosecutors said, when Howard and his girlfriend, Amanda Engelhardt, 23, got into a heated argument Thursday night over Howard's alleged infidelities. Engelhardt left the apartment with their 8-month-old and went to her family's home a few blocks away.

Most of the eight people there were sleeping when Howard showed up at 1:30 a.m. Friday, prosecutors said. Soon the couple began arguing again—waking those sleeping above the first-floor family room.



Related links
Charges in slayings of teen, dad, grandma Concerned about the noise, mother Shelly Engelhardt, 53, crept downstairs with her 18-year-old honor student daughter, Laura Engelhardt. As the two approached the family room, Howard confronted them with a butcher knife he'd taken from the kitchen, prosecutors said. He threatened all three women before tying them up with yarn as they sat on a couch, authorities added.

A few minutes later Amanda Engelhardt's aunt—whom authorities did not identify—came downstairs. After telling the aunt to join the others on the couch, Howard inexplicably decided to untie them, prosecutors said. He set down the knife and untied Laura Engelhardt first. Prosecutors said as Howard untied his girlfriend, her sister Laura decided to defend her family.

Prosecutors laid out a quick chain of events: Laura Engelhardt grabbed the knife and slashed Howard's arm, but he got it back and stabbed her several times. As she lay bleeding, Howard critically wounded Shelly Engelhardt, stabbing her in the heart and lungs. Next, Howard found grandmother Marlene Gacek, 73, in the kitchen and fatally stabbed her in the chest as she tried to get away. Howard then killed the father, Alan Engelhardt, 57, slashing his throat before he collapsed in the family room near his seriously injured wife and daughter, prosecutors said.

Howard returned to the family room, where his girlfriend, who was not injured, convinced him to let her call police. When officers arrived about 6 a.m., they found Alan Engelhardt and Gacek dead and Laura Engelhardt critically wounded, police said. Before she died about noon Friday in a hospital, she identified Howard as the attacker, police said.

On Saturday, Jeff Engelhardt, 20, a junior at Southern Illinois University, said his mother, Shelly, remained hospitalized and was conscious but not talking much.

Steve Herczeg, an assistant public defender, said Howard suffers mental health problems, has a history of juvenile delinquency and was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse as a juvenile in 2004.

"He seemed pretty normal," Jeff Engelhardt said of Howard. "There would be arguments, but there didn't seem to be any indication that a violent incident could take place."

Tribune reporter Susan Kuczka contributed to this report

This post has been edited by proudnewyorker82: Apr 20th 2009, 2:30 PM

[Kellyfan4eva]

WOW I'm so sorry! Sending you lots of 's and prayers and love!

[claysababe]

Oh no How tragic. I will be saying many prayers for Laura and her family and friends.

[Annie]

I can't believe it. A lot of people at my school know her.

eta' i've met her, and gave her a tour of my campus.

[Ziyu]

Wow My translator put that in Chinese.. but wow I will pray for family of Laura and friends.

[Toxic Glowsticks]

how can people be SO f**ing messed up???

[Ashleigh Rose]

This is such a disturbing, heartbreaking story.
I am truely shocked... I remember reading her posts... this is so weird.

Rest in peace, Laura.

[proudnewyorker82]

WOW I'm so sorry! Sending you lots of 's and prayers and love!

Thanks that means a lot.

I'm in such shock, I want to believe this is all a nightmare, I really can't believe it.

I didn't see her online for so many days, and I thought, don't be paranoid, don't always assume the worst, maybe her computer is just broken, and then I checked online on the local Chicago news, and there it was I can't even begin to describe the shock that washed over me.

I keep thinking "Why her? Why?" She was the most amazing kind of person you could ever meet, so friendly, caring, she never took anything too seriously, never let anything get to her, she let things just roll off her back. You hear about this on the news all the time but you never expect it to happen to someone you know.

She was so excited about prom and graduation, and her first boyfriend she got into a relationship with like a week ago, she was excited about a wrestling event she was going to, the first WWE event she would have gone to in 3 years, she had her whole life ahead of her.

This is senseless, just senseless.

It's ironic how once there was a discussion about online friends and what if something happens to them and you have no way of finding out....I just, I have so many emotions inside me and I just can't seem to verbalize them.

I loved her like a sister.

This post has been edited by proudnewyorker82: Apr 20th 2009, 3:07 PM

[xoSam]

That's horrible. I remember her posting around a lot, she seemed really sweet. My thoughts are with you, her family and friends.

[kaylo]

This is terrible, I'm so sorry. My thought & prayers go out to her family and friends, what a tragedy.

[**JennyGearFan**]

I remember her. Wow...that is just scary. I'm so sorry love. I hope you can be strong through this.

[proudnewyorker82]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes , they really mean a lot to me, I don't know how I'm going to get through the day.

[katejonsson10]

wow, im really sorry):

[bahzz[:]

omg this is horrible
i'm gonna keep you,her family and friends on my prayers

[TayTayFanForever]

I knew her. I can't believe this.

RIP Laura.

[**JennyGearFan**]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes , they really mean a lot to me, I don't know how I'm going to get through the day.

[*Christy*]

Oh my word.

[*Kiki*]

Wow. I don't know what to say. That is just beyond horrible.
I'll keep you, her family and friends in my prayers.

[soulmateoflyss]

Oh my goodness, this is terrible. I'm so sorry!

[straightxahead]

Oh gosh, that's awful!!