NEIL LOFQUIST INDICTED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS DAUGHTER

Indictment Further Alleges Sexual Assault

WHEATON –DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett, announced today that a DuPage County Grand Jury has returned an 23-count indictment against Neil J. Lofquist, 41, (d.o.b. 3/30/1965), of 153 Chicago Avenue, Clarendon Hills for the murder and sexual assault of his eight-year-old daughter Lauren.

The indictment, which was returned Thursday morning, charges Lofquist with 21 counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault.  If found guilty, Lofquist could face the death penalty.

At approximately 10 p.m. on March 26 2006, the Clarendon Hills Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call for assistance to a young girl at 153 Chicago Avenue, Clarendon Hills.  Upon their arrival at the residence, police discovered the deceased body of Lauren Lofquist (d.o.b. 10/9/97).  Lauren had been strangled and stabbed in the neck.

It is alleged that shortly after 8 p.m. that evening, Lofquist allegedly entered his daughter Lauren’s bedroom.  Once inside Lauren’s bedroom it is alleged that Lofquist sexually assaulted her and then allegedly strangled her.  Lofquist then allegedly removed Lauren from the bedroom, bringing her to an upstairs bathroom where he allegedly attempted to drown her in the toilet and also stabbed her in the neck. 

“The Grand Jury has charged Neil Lofquist with committing one of the most unspeakable of crimes, sexually assaulting and murdering his own daughter,” remarked Birkett.  “The alleged actions of this defendant not only took the life of an innocent little girl, they also devastated a family and shook an otherwise peaceful community to its core.  It is my sincerest hope that when justice is served in this case there will be closure for Lisa Lofquist and her son and that they will be able to begin rebuilding their lives”

Lofquist is scheduled for arraignment on April 24 in front of Judge Michael J. Burke in Courtroom 4010.

Clarendon Hills Chief of Police Patrick Anderson commented on the impact this brutal crime has had on the community.  “Over the past several weeks, the community of Clarendon Hills responded to a horrific crime by willingly cooperating with law enforcement agencies in their pursuit of the facts.  Our residents opened their arms to each other, the first step in the healing process, and comforted a grieving family and the community’s young people.”

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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