The trial of a man charged with murder in the 2013 stabbing death of a 19-year-old Waukegan resident began early afternoon Monday when jury selection got underway.
Kevin Curtis, 29, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder in the death of Jacob Blum.
Waukegan police and prosecutors allege that Blum was fatally stabbed by Curtis on night of July 16, 2013.
Authorities said the two were co-workers who both were staying at a motel on the 3100 block of Belvidere Road at the time of Blum’s death. Police said Blum was able to identify his assailant before dying at about 12:30 a.m. July 17 at Vista Medical Center West in Waukegan.
The trial was to be held before Lake County Circuit Judge James Booras, but he was reportedly sick and unavailable Monday, so Circuit Judge George Strickland presided over the start of jury selection.
It was not clear whether the trial will continue before Strickland or whether Booras will take the bench upon his return.
According to police reports, Blum was not able to tell police what led to an apparent altercation prior to the stabbing.
As a trial date was approaching in 2015, Curtis was examined by a local psychiatrist who found him unfit for trial, and he was sent to a secured medical facility for treatment. He was returned to the Lake County Jail last year after being found fit for trial following treatment.
The case is being prosecuted by assistant state’s attorneys Daniel Kleinhubert and Scott Turk, while Curtis is being represented by defense attorneys Eric Rinehart and Kevin Malia.
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In addition to the alleged identification by the victim, Kleinhubert has said Curtis was treated after the incident for a cut to his hand that Kleinhubert said occurred during the alleged stabbing.
Curtis, who has been held in Lake County Jail since his arrest with bail set at $5 million, faces a mandatory minimum of 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted.
Blum was formerly of the Lake Villa and Volo areas, according to prosecutors.
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