Arlington Heights Man Charged With Attempted Murder

Police charged an Arlington Heights man with attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly beat, and attempted to strangle and smother his ex-girlfriend, police say.

Donald E. Stellato, 39, of the 1700 block of West Northwest Highway, also is charged with aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint, according to a release from the Arlington Heights Police Department.

His bond was set at $750,000 Tuesday. He will be required to wear an ankle monitor if he posts bond, Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Mike Hernandez said.

The release says police in Barrington stopped his former girlfriend as she was driving around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. She told police that Stellato has beaten her at his Arlington Heights home.

Police say the 44-year-old woman from Crystal Lake was at his home Saturday evening when she and Stellato started arguing. Police say he started striking her, and she attempted to leave, they said, but he forced her to stay.

He then hit her in the face and head with his fists, police say. They said he also put his hand to her neck and tried to strangle her, and put a pillow to her face to smother her.

The woman eventually was able to leave, and drove away. Barrington police encountered her a short time later.

The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries and has since been released.

Police said they found Stellato at the home of a relative in Arlington Heights.

Stellato had been arrested before in 2006, 2009 and 2010 in Arlington Heights on battery charges related to the same alleged victim, Hernandez said, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The publication says the two have been in an on-and-off relationship for about 10 years, Hernandez said, and she refused to testify in the earlier incidents.

Stellato's next court date is Oct. 17.