The state will seek the death penalty against a northwest suburban man accused of the gruesome stabbings of his girlfriend's father, sister and grandmother last April.
D'Andre Howard, 20, of Hoffman Estates was indicted on 15 counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of unlawful restraint, two counts of aggravated battery and one count of attempted first-degree murder, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin.
The state on Monday announced it will seek the death penalty in the case, according to state's attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. Howard is scheduled for a status hearing Oct. 16.
He is accused of fatally stabbing Alan Engelhardt, 57; Laura Engelhardt, 18; and Marlene Gacek, 73, on April 17 at his girlfriend’s family’s home in the 1000 block of North Bluebonnet Lane in Hoffman Estates.
Prosecutors said Howard had been feuding with his 23-year-old girlfriend for several days when he kicked her and their eight-month-old baby out of their apartment. The woman -- identified by a neighbor as Amanda Engelhardt -- went to stay with her parents and other relatives.
But at 1:30 a.m. on April 17, Howard allegedly went to the home and a quarrel ensued. He allegedly grabbed a knife from the kitchen and ended up stabbing Engelhardt’s father and maternal grandmother. Both died at the scene, authorities said.
He also tied up his girlfriend’s sister Laura, but later untied her, prosecutors said. The Conant High School senior managed to stab him in the arm before being stabbed. Howard allegedly critically wounded his girlfriend’s 52-year-old mother, who was hospitalized, and restrained her 85-year-old paternal grandmother.
Howard did not injure his girlfriend or the baby, but did not allow her to call authorities for 45 minutes, and even ripped some phone jacks out of the wall to stop her, prosecutors said. She eventually called and was still on the phone when police arrived, prosecutors said.
Laura Engelhardt was conscious and able to tell them what happened, but she died at a hospital later that day.
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