U.S. Marshals Arrest Suspect in Brutal Attack on Willowbrook Woman

U.S. Marshals took a man into custody in South Bend, Indiana, Tuesday and he’s being questioned in the brutal stabbing and rape of a Willowbrook woman in her own home on Saturday. The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force made the apprehension.

The 26-year-old woman suffered 17 stab wounds to her face, neck, torso and back and sustained six broken bones in her face during the attack.

Earlier today, the Illinois Crime Commission offered a $5,000 reward for information that would help find the man who brutally attacked the woman Saturday at her Willowbrook home. He forced his way in after asking her first for money and then to use her telephone. He attacked her with an unknown sharp object.

Law enforcement officials believe they may have found the suspect’s dark blue Nissan Altima on Monday in Brookfield.

WGN is reporting that the suspect was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant. Willowbrook police have released a statement confirming that the man is in custody and being questioned but charges have not been filed.

After the Saturday afternoon attack, which took place at about 1 p.m. as she was preparing to leave for her mother’s birthday party, the woman managed to run to a neighbor’s house. That neighbor, Robin Courtney, called 911 and later spoke to WGN News.

“She was bloody from head to toe,” Courtney said. “She thought she was gonna die.”

The woman was taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and was placed into intensive care.

“It’s a miracle her injuries were not life threatening,” Courtney said. “I believe the worst of it is the gashes and the breaks in her nose.”

Her father told reporters his daughter put up a fight.

“She said ‘Daddy, I fought as hard as I could,’ ” her father said.

Her family and friends have set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the victim’s expenses because she won’t be able to work for quite a while. She remains hospitalized.

The GoFundMe appeal reads: “She has had to undergo countless tests and procedures just in the first 24 hours. She is at a minimum in the hospital for a week. Please donate whatever you can to her, she will be unable to work and has limited finances. We appreciate any help you can give. She is a strong, strong woman and needs our support during this time.”