Police: Man Attempted to Kill Woman Who 'Annoyed Him' Before Movie Date

A Vernon Hills woman is in critical condition after a teen she thought was taking her to a movie instead stabbed her multiple times in the theater’s parking lot, police said Friday.

Daniel J. Dion, 18, of Des Plaines, now faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following the attack that occurred Thursday night in the parking lot of the Century Theater in Deer Park.

Dion told police he woke up Thursday morning with the “intent to kill” the woman, Katherine M. King, 24, of Vernon Hills, because she ”annoyed him,” according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Dion met with King “under the ruse that they would be going to a movie together,” police said. He is accused of stabbing her at least 20 times in the face and neck while they were in her vehicle outside the theater, which is located at 21600 W. Field Parkway in Deer Park.

“King was able to escape and run into the lobby of the theater for help,” according to the news release.

King is currently in critical condition at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. She has lacerations to her face and neck and her lungs were punctured in the attack, according to police.

Police said they located Dion a short time after the attack. He was treated for cuts to his hands at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington before being taken to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed.

Dion and King knew each other before the attack but its unclear how they met and what their relationship entailed, said Sgt. Curtis A. Gregory of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Dion has also been charged with aggravated battery great bodily harm and aggravated battery on a public way. He is currently being held without bond at the Lake County Jail.

Dion is next expected in court on Feb. 2.

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