A judge has sentenced a man to 27 years in prison for repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend’s 9-year-old daughter and trying to kill her in Beach Park, leaving her in critical condition.
Demetrius Fisher, 32, of Beach Park, was charged in February 2024 with attempted murder, aggravated battery to a child causing permanent disability, three counts of armed violence, three counts of aggravated battery to a child causing bodily harm and aggravated domestic battery.
He pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of attempted first-degree murder, the most serious charge, and the rest of his charges were dismissed.
A judge approved the plea and sentenced Fisher to 27 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the negotiated agreement.
“Every child’s life and safety is precious. Our Special Victims Unit, which includes prosecutors, victim advocates, and mental health professionals, have worked tirelessly to secure justice for this victim. We are also grateful to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for their emergency response and subsequent investigation,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
“This offender was held accountable and will be out of our community for decades,” Rinehart said after sentencing.
The charges stem from a stabbing that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to around 10:45 a.m. on February 15, 2024, in the 38000 block of North Manor Avenue in Beach Park.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ari Briskman said at the time that deputies arrived to find a nine-year-old child who was suffering from multiple stab wounds.
The Beach Park Fire Department responded and paramedics transported the child by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Briskman said the girl’s injuries were described as critical and life-threatening.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli told Lake and McHenry County Scanner in an update that the girl was later stabilized at the hospital.
She made significant improvements after receiving lifesaving care and was discharged from the hospital on February 18, 2024, Covelli said.
Detectives learned the nine-year-old child’s mother was in a dating relationship with Fisher.
Fisher lived in the Manor Avenue home with her and the child.
The child’s school called the mother in the morning to inquire why her child was not in attendance, Briskman said.
The mother returned to the Manor Avenue home to investigate and discovered Fisher exiting the home.
Briskman said Fisher ran away after seeing the woman, who then entered the home and discovered her critically injured child inside.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ayah Elfarra said the mother called 911 screaming that her daughter had been stabbed.
Elfarra said the victim was lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood.
She had stab wounds to her bicep and abdomen as well as a long slash wound to her neck. The child also had defensive wounds on her hands.
The victim told police that Fisher punched her to the ground before stabbing her.
Deputies learned Fisher boarded a bus and was likely going to a nearby train station, Briskman said.
They located Fisher at the Waukegan Metra station and placed him under arrest.
Elfarra said Fisher told investigators that the child had been stomping around the home, causing him to “snap.”
Fisher said he went to the kitchen and put an oven mitt on his hand and used that same hand to grab a kitchen knife.
Fisher admitted he punched the child to the ground and used the knife to stab her multiple times.
The man told investigators he wore the oven mitt to not injure himself, Elfarra said.
Fisher said he intended to kill the child. Investigators told the man the victim was still alive and Fisher appeared visibly shocked.
He responded by saying, “Did you see her neck?” according to Elfarra.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Daly said another child was in the home at the time of the attack, which occurred over two hours prior to the victim being found critically injured on the floor by her mother.
Fisher will serve his 27-year prison sentence at 85% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
He will also be required to register as a violent offender against youth upon release from custody.