By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
A 42-year-old Burlington woman is dead following what authorities believe was domestic violence attack in an Elk Grove Village, Ill., hospital Sunday.
According to an press conference done with Assistant States Attorney Maria McCarthy – as posted on the Daily Herald website at www.dailyherald.com, a suburban Chicago newspaper – Francisca Quintero-Montoya was visiting her ailing brother at Alexian Brothers Medical Center Sunday morning when she was allegedly stabbed to death by her estranged husband.
She was stabbed multiple times with a screwdriver, and died a short time later.
Her husband, Javier Bahena-Arellano, a McHenry, Ill., resident, was immediately taken into custody. The Cook County States Attorney’s office charged him with one count of first-degree murder and one count of felony murder. He is being held without bond.
A vigil for Quintero-Montoya was scheduled for Wednesday evening in Wehmhoff Square Park in Burlington. Cherie Griffin, the executive director for the Women’s Resource Center, said trauma advocates from the group will be available on request.
Griffin said she felt a profound sadness on hearing the news.
“This is why I do the work I do,” Griffin said. “We are working to protect victims and save their lives.”
According to McCarthy Monday, the autopsy done by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office revealed three wounds, including one that perforated the aorta, the main artery in the body.
Reading from a report in the video, McCarthy said Bahena-Arellano believed his wife was having an affair. He allegedly took her cell phone and went out to his truck, where he read her text messages. He then came back into the hospital with a screwdriver.
McCarthy said Bahena-Arellano allegedly gave the keys to his truck to his brother-in-law, asking him to return it to his place of work.
When asked why, the defendant allegedly said, “no, it’s finished” and he wouldn’t need the truck.
McCarthy said Bahena-Arellano then confronted Quintero-Montoya and followed her into a bathroom off the waiting room area. Family members heard a commotion, but couldn’t get into the locked bathroom.
“They heard the defendant say to the victim, ‘I told you what I was doing to do to you.’”
McCarthy added that family members then heard Quintero-Montoya pleading with her husband. A short time later, she said, they broke down the door, and found Quintero-Montoya on the floor covered with blood.
According to McCarthy, when Bahena-Arellano was asked, “Why?” by a sister, he picked up the cell phone and said, “This is your motive why.”
He also allegedly told security personnel that his wife had cheated on him.
Village of Elk Grove Police Sgt. Michael Garrison confirmed there had been previous domestic violence complaints regarding Bahena-Arellano, but said they occurred “years ago.”
Griffin said she could not comment on whether the Women’s Resource Center had previous dealings with Quintero-Montoya, but added that outcomes like this are what the women’s advocates at the center fear.
“A situation like this is the most risk,” Griffin said. “This is where domestic violence becomes lethal.”
She said domestic violence, if left alone, escalates.
“This reminds us of taking the threats of a batterer seriously,” Griffin said.
She urged any women in a domestic violence situation thinking of leaving to seek help so they could do so safely.
The crisis line for the Women’s Resource Center is (262) 633-3233. Advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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