Senior Accused in Double Murder 'Disemboweled' Neighbor: Prosecutor

John Arnold, 67 | Lyons Police Department

LYONS, IL — A 67-year-old resident of an assisted senior living facility sat on a chair in the hallway outside his neighbor’s apartment, laying in wait until the door opened and he pushed inside and stabbed two of his neighbors to death, prosecutors said.

John Arnold appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on two charges of first degree murder during a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Also on Patch: Resident of Lyons Senior Facility Charged with Murders of Two Neighbors

Arnold, a resident of Riverwalk Senior Residences, 8019 Ogden Ave. in Lyons, is accused of plunging a knife early Sunday morning into David Bosseler, 73, and a 61-year-old woman multiple times. Lyons police said the three people had argued about missing property over the weekend, which Arnold claimed had been taken from him.

Bosseler and the woman also lived at the assisted senior living facility. Their bodies were discovered Monday morning during a well-being check.

The woman’s name has not been released because police are working to contact her family members.

According to the charges, Lyons police were able to view surveillance video that showed the woman entering the apartment at 6:11 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Bosseler entered the same apartment around 5 a.m. the next morning.

At 7 a.m. Sunday, police said security cameras outside Bosseler’s apartment on the third floor of the senior building showed Arnold dragging a chair down the hallway and carrying a briefcase.

The prosecutor said Arnold sat in the hallway for approximately 50 minutes until someone opened the door of the apartment. Arnold got up from the chair and pushed his way inside.

Five minutes later, the prosecutor said the security video showed Arnold leaving the apartment, where he was seen taking off his shoes and putting them inside the briefcase. He allegedly tossed the shoes and briefcase into a dumpster in the building. Both the shoes and the briefcase were later recovered.

When Bosseler and the woman didn't push a button for the required daily check-in with staff Monday morning, staff conducted a well-being check. A staff member found the bodies of both residents inside the apartment.

Police said Bosseler had been disemboweled and suffered 15 stab wounds; the woman was stabbed three times.

During the bond hearing, the prosecutor said security video showed no one entering or leaving Bosseler’s apartment on Sunday morning except for Arnold.

Arnold allegedly agreed to speak to police, and a video recording was made of his statement. Police said Arnold admitted to entering the apartment and stabbing his neighbors.

Before the purported stabbing, Arnold told police Bosseler took property belonging to him, and the two got into an argument.

Arnold shouted his name to the judge when he was called into court. Wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, Arnold hung his head during the reading of the charges against him.

The assistant public defender told the judge she would not mitigate Arnold’s case but asserted his right to remain silent.

“He does not wish to answer anymore questions by police without his attorney present,” she said.

The assistant public defender also asked for a motion to preserve evidence.

Arnold has no prior criminal background, except for a 1979 misdemeanor theft.

Judge Felice ordered Arnold held without bail. If convicted, Arnold faces a mandatory sentence of spending the rest of natural life in prison.

Arnold's next court hearing is May 24 in Bridgeview.

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