'Bored' Will Co. Inmate Faces Charges After Damaging Sprinkler: Cops

WILL COUNTY, IL — A Wisconsin man who faces multiple charges, including the attempted murder of his in-laws, faces a new felony charge after police officials said he was bored this week and damaged the fire sprinkler system in his cell at the Will County Jail.

Michael Liu, 36, has been incarcerated at the jail since December after police said he attacked his in-laws at their Crete home and attempted to kill them. Liu faced new charges last week after Will County prosecutors allege that he spoke with inmates at the jail about having witnesses to the attack on his in-laws killed, offering to pay $20,000.

Liu told the inmate that he would pay $10,000 upfront and then the other $10,000 when the killings were completed, prosecutors say.

Liu now faces a felony charge of causing damage to government property after he started messing with the sprinkler system in his cell, Will County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kathy Hoffmeyer said on Friday.

Correctional staff at the jail told Will County deputies Liu was in his cell on Wednesday when he caused damage to the fire sprinkler system, Hoffmeyer said. The damage to the sprinkler system caused the system to slowly start leaking water.

Deputies who spoke to Liu were told that he was bored, Hoffmeyer said, and that he just started messing with the sprinkler system when it began to leak.

In addition to the attempted murder charges stemming from the December attack, Liu has been charged with home invasion and could face further charges, prosecutors said.

A judge ordered Liu held without bond as he awaits trial on the multiple charges stemming from the December attack.