Syniks
28-04-2005, 17:19
Cops recover knives used in kids’ slayings (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050428twokilled,1,5644185.story)
Tribune staff reports
Published April 28, 2005, 10:37 AM CDT
Police have recovered several knives believed used as murder weapons and are questioning a couple after officers were called to their Hoffman Estates home Wednesday night to find two young children stabbed to death.
The same parents lost another child, in 2000, when a fire broke out in the condominium they were living in at the time, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.
Autopsies were scheduled for later today for the stabbing victims, Christian Vasilev, 9, and Gracie Vasilev, 3, of the 1100 block of John Drive in the northwest suburb, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Their 36-year-old father and 34-year-old mother "are being held for questioning. We are not looking for anyone else at this time," said Hoffman Estates police Lt. Rich Russo.
Representatives of the Cook County state's attorney's office were talking to the parents at the Hoffman Estates Police Department, Russo said. No charges had been filed as of mid-morning.
At 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, the children's father arrived home and called 911 to report that his children had been stabbed, said Hoffman Estates Police Officer Paul McCaffrey. Police arrived within three minutes and found the children dead.
The youngster's mother also was home at the time. Police would not confirm reports the mother had cuts on her body that required medical attention.
Police said the father was not in the house when the children were slain. They declined to go into details about the mother.
On May 26, 2000, the family lost a 3-month-old girl, Gabrielle, after her mother briefly left her in the laundry room of their then-Elk Grove Village condominium, and a fire broke out there, WGN reported.
"There was no (call) of a criminal nature to this home" before Tuesday night, Russo said at a news conference this morning to discuss the case.
Asked about the 2000 fire, Russo said his department was looking into the Wednesday night crime only "and the circumstances surrounding it." He added that if reports of the fire were correct, "I would assume that's being looked into."
The children's father is a pastor at a Bulgarian church in Des Plaines, neighbors told CLTV. Neighbors said their children played together and never witnessed any problems in the family.
Investigators remained at the home today, and the house and the immediate area were cordoned off. More than 20 officers, including members of the northwest suburban Major Case Assistance Team, were working on the case.
Tribune staff reports
Published April 28, 2005, 10:37 AM CDT
Police have recovered several knives believed used as murder weapons and are questioning a couple after officers were called to their Hoffman Estates home Wednesday night to find two young children stabbed to death.
The same parents lost another child, in 2000, when a fire broke out in the condominium they were living in at the time, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.
Autopsies were scheduled for later today for the stabbing victims, Christian Vasilev, 9, and Gracie Vasilev, 3, of the 1100 block of John Drive in the northwest suburb, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Their 36-year-old father and 34-year-old mother "are being held for questioning. We are not looking for anyone else at this time," said Hoffman Estates police Lt. Rich Russo.
Representatives of the Cook County state's attorney's office were talking to the parents at the Hoffman Estates Police Department, Russo said. No charges had been filed as of mid-morning.
At 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, the children's father arrived home and called 911 to report that his children had been stabbed, said Hoffman Estates Police Officer Paul McCaffrey. Police arrived within three minutes and found the children dead.
The youngster's mother also was home at the time. Police would not confirm reports the mother had cuts on her body that required medical attention.
Police said the father was not in the house when the children were slain. They declined to go into details about the mother.
On May 26, 2000, the family lost a 3-month-old girl, Gabrielle, after her mother briefly left her in the laundry room of their then-Elk Grove Village condominium, and a fire broke out there, WGN reported.
"There was no (call) of a criminal nature to this home" before Tuesday night, Russo said at a news conference this morning to discuss the case.
Asked about the 2000 fire, Russo said his department was looking into the Wednesday night crime only "and the circumstances surrounding it." He added that if reports of the fire were correct, "I would assume that's being looked into."
The children's father is a pastor at a Bulgarian church in Des Plaines, neighbors told CLTV. Neighbors said their children played together and never witnessed any problems in the family.
Investigators remained at the home today, and the house and the immediate area were cordoned off. More than 20 officers, including members of the northwest suburban Major Case Assistance Team, were working on the case.