'He Broke Into My Home And Tried To Kill Me': Joliet Victim

JOLIET — Brandon Vogel, a 39-year-old Naperville man who faces eight charges in Joliet, including aggravated domestic battery, has hired a Joliet law firm in hopes of getting himself out of the Will County Jail under the SAFE-T-Act.

The hearing on Vogel's motion for release from custody is set for May 20 in Courtroom 405 of Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak. Vogel's motion was filed by attorney Christine Moriarty Field of Joliet's Hirsch Law Group on North Scott Street.

Will County prosecutors charged Vogel on May 6 with two counts of aggravated domestic battery and six counts of domestic battery. Meanwhile, the victim has filed an order of protection against Vogel in hopes of keeping him away from her in the event that one of Will County's judges grants his freedom.

On May 3, "I informed Brandon I wanted to end the relationship due to his excessive consumption of alcohol and to not come to my house," her protection order explained. "He came to my house after being asked not to. Brandon used my garage door opener I forgot he had in his possession to enter the home. When he entered my home, he began to punch me in the face.

"When I would attempt to run away, he would grab me from my hair and bring me down, punching me again. I went to multiple neighbors' doors asking for help as Brandon chased me and assaulted me until a neighbor answered the door," the victim informed the judge. "Police were called and Brandon fled and was later detained."

The violence happened in the Plainfield area, in the 1600 block of Canterbury Court.

According to the Will County State's Attorney's Office's petition to deny Vogel's pretrial release:

Vogel was previously charged in 2017 in Cook County with assault, criminal trespass and violation of bail bond, and in 2015 in DuPage County with DUI, resulting in 100 hours of community service and 12 months of court supervision.

The May 4 victim told Joliet police that this is not the first instance of domestic violence with Vogel, and there were two prior incidents when Vogel physically abused her.

On May 4, at 2:11 a.m., Joliet police were called to the 1700 block of Canterbury for the domestic disturbance. Officers found the victim upset, with injuries to her face and head.

She had a large bump and swelling on the right side of her face and forehead. Her left eye was swollen, and her mouth was bleeding.

She told Joliet police that she had broken off her eight-month-long relationship with Vogel because of his drinking and violent tendencies. The two had broken up about a month earlier.

He arrived at her house around midnight and appeared drunk, and he brought along a vodka bottle. Inside her bedroom, he began to hit her in the head and he started choking her. Vogel then dragged her down the stairs by her hair, and he continued to hit her. He choked her a second time, and she could not breathe.

Vogel drove off before Joliet police arrived, and he had taken the victim's phone, according to court records. Vogel had chased the victim outside, and he let her go after one of her neighbors saw her yelling for help. Part of the attack was captured on the neighbor's camera at the front of his house in the 1600 block of Canterbury Court.

The victim's two children were home at the time, but they were asleep and did not know what happened, prosecutors explained. Vogel was captured by police on May 5.

Meanwhile, Vogel's victim went on Facebook and has posted photos of them as a couple and photos of herself after suffering black eyes.

"As some of you know, I was in a domestic violence situation with my ex, Brandon. He started drinking again so I broke it off ... Later that night, he broke into my home and tried to kill me. As a domestic violence survivor, I don't want anyone to feel alone," she posted.

Joliet Patch coverage:

Woman Choked, Dragged Down The Stairs On Canterbury Court: JPD