A man who was charged with murdering an Algonquin couple, concealing their bodies and then transporting them in a U-Haul truck, has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation.
Maxim Parnov, 36, of the 400 block of La Fox River Drive in Algonquin, was indicted in December on six counts of first-degree murder and two counts of concealing a homicidal death.
Parnov’s attorney, McHenry County Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos, filed a motion in court on Tuesday seeking an evaluation of his client.
Mourelatos said that Parnov has a background of suffering from mental health issues in the past.
Mourelatos asked the court to grant an order for Parnov to obtain an evaluation of his mental status at the time of the offense.
McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge on Thursday granted the motion, court documents show.
Parnov has been held in the McHenry County Jail on a $5 million bond since his arrest.
The Algonquin Police Department said they responded on November 30 to the 400 block of La Fox River Drive in Algonquin for a wellbeing check call.
Algonquin Deputy Police Chief Ryan Markham said someone called police to check on a male resident and female resident who had not been heard from.
Officers were unable to locate the residents, identified as Elvira Almen, 56, and Peter M. Almen, 64, at the residence and an investigation was launched.
Two deceased subjects, who matched the description of the couple, were located around 12 p.m. on December 1, Markham said. He did not say where in Algonquin they were found.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein confirmed the identities of the couple after an autopsy was performed on December 2.
Parnov, who fled the area in a car, was identified as a person of interest in the case shortly after police found the couple’s bodies.
Markham said that Parnov was located by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department at a residence in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin around 6:48 a.m. on December 2.
Court documents said that Parnov inflicted blunt force trauma on Elvira Almen and Peter Almen, causing their deaths.
Parnov allegedly placed Elvira Almen in a freezer inside the residence on La Fox River Drive and transported the freezer in a U-Haul rental truck, a criminal complaint said.
Parnov allegedly placed the body of Peter Almen in a wooden cabinet inside the residence on La Fox River Drive and transported the cabinet in the back of the same truck, the complaint said.
Markham said that the bodies of the two victims were located in a different location than the couple’s residence.
Friends of Peter Almen said the man, who was married to Elvira Almen, was reported missing after he did not show up for work, which was unlike him.
Markham said the case is believed to be domestic violence-related.
A hearing is scheduled for May 26 for a status on a trial date.