A 55-year-old northwest suburban optometrist was indicted in Cook County Circuit Court on Thursday in the stabbing death of his girlfriend that authorities said happened during a post-dinner argument at her Schaumburg home last month.
Anthony Prate, of Algonquin, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old Malgorzata “Margaret” Daniel. If convicted, Prate could face up to 60 years in prison.
Prate was ordered to an arraignment hearing Jan. 2 in Rolling Meadows branch court by Judge Samuel Betar. Defense attorney Sam Amirante told Betar he intends to ask for a bond review for Prate, who is being held without bail.
Prosecutors allege that Prate stabbed Daniel dozens of times during a heated argument in which he suffered cuts to his hands. Prate appeared in court in tan jail scrubs with both hands swathed in bandages.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Nov. 23 after Daniel had given a dinner party for Prate and two of her neighbors, authorities said. The two argued over dinner, and the argument resumed after the neighbors left, authorities said.
Prate called 911 about 1:30 a.m. and told the dispatcher the two had a fight involving a knife and that Daniel was “gravely wounded,” prosecutors said. Police found Daniel lying on the floor in a pool of blood suffering from 20 to 30 stab wounds, seven in her back, prosecutors said.
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Police learned that Prate had called three family members prior to calling 911 and indicated that he had stabbed Daniel, prosecutors said at a previous court hearing. Prate was taken into custody at the scene and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Betar also signed a preservation order for Prate’s car, which had been towed from the scene by a private firm seeking to auction it off.
Family members of both Prate and Daniel attended the hearing but had no comment following the proceedings.
The case has led to the reopening of an investigation into a 2011 traffic crash in Lake in the Hills that killed Prate’s wife, Bridget Prate, and which authorities viewed as suspicious at the time. Anthony Prate was behind the wheel. No criminal charges were filed. Following Prate’s arrest in the Schaumburg slaying, the McHenry County state’s attorney and Lake in the Hills police announced a renewal of the crash investigation.
George Houde is a freelance reporter.