Richard Grybalow, 71, of Gurnee.

Police say that a Gurnee man was charged with attempted murder and attempted arson after he strangled a woman and tried to blow up her Gurnee home.

Richard Grybalow, 71, of Gurnee, was charged with attempted murder, attempted residential arson, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery by strangulation, unlawful restraint and fleeing to elude police.

The Gurnee Police Department received a report around 11 a.m. February 21 of a domestic battery, according to Gurnee Police Spokeswoman Shawn Gaylor.

A female victim came to the police department and told officers that the incident occurred in the 4400 block of Country Trail in Gurnee.

The victim said that Grybalow attacked her as she entered her residence, held her against her will and attempted to kill her.

An arrest warrant alleged that Grybalow also pressed his fingers into the woman’s eye sockets and strangled her during the attack.

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Officers immediately went to the residence to locate Grybalow and witnessed him leaving the area in his vehicle, Gaylor said. Officers attempted to stop Grybalow from leaving but he refused to stop for police.

Two hours later, the Gurnee Fire Department responded to the woman’s home for an odor of natural gas emanating from the residence. Gurnee police officers also responded to assist.

Gaylor said it appeared that the natural gas lines had been tampered with and were leaking gas from several locations within the home. No one was in the house at the time.

An hour and a half later, investigators located Grybalow and transported him to the hospital for an evaluation. Officers spoke with Grybalow while he was at the hospital and obtained his version of events.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and warrants were issued for Grybalow the following day. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Team arrested him on March 11.

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Grybalow was ordered held in the Lake County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.