Woman Strangled To Death In Her Zion Home By Chicago Man: Authorities

WAUKEGAN, IL — A Chicago man has been charged with murder in the slaying of a woman found strangled to death in her Zion apartment.

Kristin Pitak, 38, was found dead by a family member around 11 a.m. Monday, two days after she had last been seen alive, authorities said.

Police said it appeared Pitak had been dead for "some time," and officers found signs that she had been involved in a struggle in the apartment in the 2200 block of Lewis Avenue.

Neighbors told investigators that the woman lived alone, but there was a man who frequently came over, according to Zion police.

Craig Larsen, 50, of Chicago, was identified as the woman's "male friend" and interviewed by detectives at his home. During questioning, detectives noticed Larsen had fresh cuts and scratches on his face, hands and arms, police said.

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Larsen also made "unsolicited comments" about Pitak's death, according to a statement from police.

The Lake County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy Tuesday. The preliminary results indicated evidence of strangulation, although final autopsy results are pending further studies, according to a spokesperson for the coroner.

Prosecutors approved two counts of first-degree murder, and a judge on Wednesday ordered Larsen held at Lake County Jail unless he posts the $500,000 cash portion of his bond.

Pitak filed a petition for an order of protection against Larsen in March 2022.

According to her petition, Pitak discovered Larsen had stolen the SIM card from her cell phone.

"I was very scared because my personal data is on the card, and Craig [Larsen] has told me in the past that he has a good friend in IT that can hack anyone and put them on the dark web," Pitak wrote, seeking a stalking no contact order. "Craig obsessively stalks people online. I've seen him do it."

Pitak also said Larsen had gained unauthorized access to a social media account and send "bad things" about her and her friends.

"I told him our friendship was over, that he had crossed the line by invading my privacy and hacking into my Facebook like that and blocked him," she alleged in her petition. "I am very scared of him doing something to me online or in person. I purchased pepper spray and told my supervisor about him, but I am still afraid he might try to hurt me. My therapist also recommended that I get this order."

Lake County Circuit Judge Reginald Mathews denied an emergency order of protection the following month.

According to Mathews' April 11 order, it was unlikely that Larsen would cause irreparable harm or abuse and Pitak was afraid of what Larsen "may do not of things [Larsen] has done."

Pitaks petition for a "stalking no contact order" was dismissed for want of prosecution after neither she nor Larsen showed up to court on April 28.

Larsen is due back in court March 28 on the murder charges.