A jury found a Waukegan man guilty of stabbing and brutally beating a woman in Waukegan — leaving her in a coma — after she turned down his romantic advances.
Varghese Philip, 54, of Waukegan, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery.
A jury deliberated for less than four hours before finding Philip guilty on Thursday.
The attack occurred on June 21, 2018, in the parking lot of an apartment complex near Sunset Road and Golf Road in Waukegan.
The female victim lived at the apartment complex at the time.
Prosecutors said the woman had declined a request to see Philip, who was married. Philip became increasingly agitated and sought her out, prosecutors said.
According to Assistant State’s Attorneys Scott Hoffert and Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg, as well as trial testimony, Philip approached the woman in the parking lot and stabbed her in the head with a knife.
The woman fell to the ground and Philip then kicked and stomped the victim’s head as she lost consciousness.
The attack left the Waukegan woman in a temporary coma with a traumatic brain injury that required months of rehabilitation and still affects her life today, prosecutors said.
Philip was identified by witnesses and arrested by police. He had been held in the Lake County Jail on a $500,000 bond since his arrest.
Lake County Judge George Strickland revoked bond for Philip after the verdict was read.
“Without the victim’s testimony, this offender would have gotten away with this awful attack. She should be commended by all for her strength and bravery,” Kalcheim Rothenberg said.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the verdict that his entire office stands with the “courageous survivor.”
“Our prosecutors, victim advocates, and law enforcement partners got the job done and a dangerous offender faces sentencing soon,” Rinehart said.
Philip faces a sentencing range of between six to 30 years, which will be served at 85% based on truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
A sentencing date has not yet been set, but Strickland scheduled a November 18 court date to hear post-trial motions.