Algonquin 16-year-old charged with murder of father

David W. Szalonek, who lives at 1461 Westbourne Parkway, was in court Tuesday where his bond was set at $2.5 million. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 18.

Algonquin police responded to the residence about 7:47 p.m. for a report of a suspicious incident and found the victim, Brian Szalonek, dead of a gunshot wound, according to a news release.

According to court documents, more than one order of protection had previously been taken out by Szalonek’s mother, Jerilyn, against the victim.

In court documents, Jerilyn Szalonek accused her husband of physical abuse and withholding financial assistance to the family.

McHenry County court records show Szalonek’s mother, Jerilyn, sought orders of protection against her husband at least twice while the family was living in Lake in the Hills.

Both times, emergency orders of protection were granted but the case was dismissed before a longer order was entered.

In 2004, Jerilyn Szalonek said her husband threw a candle at her and punched her in the head during an argument about a loan she took out in his name after he refused to buy groceries and necessities for their three children, according to her request for an order of protection.

She accused him of threatening to continue to beat her until the loan, which had a high interest rate, was paid, according to the request.

She also said that he had choked her and threatened her life in 1987 and hit her and threw a box of books at her back in 1997.

She wrote that he had counseling after both those incidents but resumed verbally and physically abusing her.

“My children have seen only a few things, but it’s enough for me to question my safety even when I am with him,” she wrote in 2004.

“I need to be away from this man, and I need healing.”

Neighbors say the family has two other sons, one a second grader and the other attending college.

By SARAH SUTSCHEK, ssutschek@nwherald.com

Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.