Police announced a man is in custody on attempted murder charges after he admitted to trying to kill a female gas station clerk in a horrific, unprovoked attack that left her seriously injured in Woodstock.
The Woodstock Police Department responded around 10:13 a.m. Wednesday to the Shell gas station, 110 North Eastwood Drive, for a report of a person who was attacked.
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb said it was reported that the on-duty clerk was struck multiple times by an unknown suspect while inside the retail store.
Officers arrived and found the victim and immediately called for the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.
The woman had suffered significant injuries after being attacked, Lieb said.
Officers were able to obtain a statement from the victim and gather other evidence, including security camera footage.
Lieb said a physical description was obtained and an investigation was conducted, leading officers to identify the suspect as Austin Silverman, 29, of Woodstock.
Officers located Silverman and took him into custody without incident.
The Woodstock Police Department’s Investigations Division responded and handled the investigation due to the seriousness of the incident, Lieb said.
Investigators reviewed the case with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery in a public place and criminal damage to property were approved.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Silverman “maliciously attacked” the victim by punching her multiple times in the head and face.
He also kicked and stomped the victim numerous times during the attack and threw her into a wall, the complaint said.
The complaint said Silverman bashed the victim’s head into the wall numerous times and used a wooden club to beat her.
Silverman then pressed the wooden club against her neck and continued to strike the victim in the head with more punches, the complaint said.
The police chief said there was no apparent motive for the attack, which was unprovoked.
Silverman also stated that he intended to kill the woman, the complaint said.
Silverman was transported to the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock and is expected to appear for his Initial Appearance Court hearing on Friday afternoon.