Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Belliville, IL: Belleville woman's estranged husband faces charges in her stabbing death

BELLEVILLE • A woman whose estranged husband has been charged with stabbing her to death at her apartment here Monday night had obtained an order of protection against him, officials said Wednesday.

Police say John M. Cole, 23, of the 1100 block of Lebanon Avenue in Belleville, and his cousin, Garfield J. Fenton, 21, of the 1500 block of Ohio Street in East St. Louis, entered LeNae S. Cole's home in the 600 block of East McKinley Street Monday night. Inside, police say, John Cole stabbed LeNae Cole in the neck and stabbed Xzavion O'Neal about his body.

Police were called to the duplex at about 11:30 p.m. Monday and found O'Neal seriously injured in the street. He directed police to the house, where they found the 23-year-old woman fatally injured.

John Cole and Fenton have been charged with one count each of first-degree murder and home invasion. Cole also has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder.

Both are being held in the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail apiece.

Police quickly arrested a suspect near the scene on Monday night and later arrested a second suspect in East St. Louis.

Neighbors said LeNae Cole had asked John Cole to move out a month ago and had started a new relationship with O'Neal.

The Coles have two girls, ages 1 and 3, who were found in the duplex unharmed, neighbors said.

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