Defendant who stabbed woman walking dog near Union Station to stay in jail

Julian Crews and Alonzo Petit

33 minutes ago

CHICAGO — The 25-year-old California man accused of stabbing a woman multiple times outside Chicago's Union Station will remain behind bars after his court appearance Friday.

Investigators told WGN News they continue to look for a motive in the seemingly random attack police believe Wilson Barreno committed. He faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury to a person over the age of 60 and use of a deadly weapon.

The victim, Arlene Rado, 71, was walking her dog Mickey along the 200 block of South Canal Street when she was grabbed from behind by the neck and stabbed multiple times in the back and neck, her husband said. husband. WGN.

Surveillance video captured the attack, prosecutors said.

Two bystanders reportedly sprang into action, grabbed the alleged attacker, Barreno, and held him until police arrived and took him into custody about 30 minutes after the attack.

Among Barreno's personal effects were apparently an Amtrak train ticket to Washington, D.C., and a Guatemalan passport. But investigators added that the 25-year-old arrived from California on another train, although the time is undetermined, before spotting the victim, Arlene Rado, and stabbing her seven times.

On Friday, Judge William Fahy granted the state's motion to keep Barreno in custody at the Cook County Jail.

Alan Rado, the victim's husband, told WGN News that his wife has been released and continues to recover.

“The last few days have been good because Arlene is doing well,” he said. “I think if there were any complications I would be quite upset. But I managed to keep my cool and feel positive because my wife is doing great. Considering what happened, she's really in a good mood.

Rado also thanks the good Samaritans who put pressure on his wife's stabbing before city paramedics arrived.