Trial Date Set for Arlington Heights Man Accused of Killing Wife With Hatchet

An Arlington Heights man who is accused of killing his wife with a hatchet last year in Wisconsin will go to trial in February in that state, according to a Daily Herald report.

Cristian Loga-Negru, 38, is charged with felony counts of first-degree intentional homicide, mayhem and kidnapping in connection with death of Roxana Abrudan, 36. He has pleaded not guilty, and his court date is Feb. 1 in Racine County, the Daily Herald report stated. If convicted, Loga-Negru could be sentenced to life in prison plus 85 years.

»RELATED: Arlington Heights Man Jailed After Wife Killed With Hatchet

Loga-Negru hunted down Abrudan to Mount Pleasant, Wis. That’s where she had fled to try to escape the violence that had become a part of her life. Since marrying in July 2014, Abrudan told authorities Loga-Negru head-butted, kicked and beat her several times, as well as threatening to shoot her in the head or hiring someone to kill her. On Nov. 3, 2014, Abrudan had taken out a Cook County order of protection against Loga-Negru, the Daily Herald reported.

»Via the Daily Herald

Police apprehended Loga-Negru on Nov. 19, 2014, outside a Wisconsin Super 8 motel, covered in Abrudan’s blood and standing over her body, which was in the back of his car. Loga-Negru reportedly asked the responding officers to shoot him when they arrived.

“I can stand a lot of smells but not her blood on me,” he told police as they took him into custody.

»RELATED: Covered in Wife’s Blood, Accused Killer Asked Cops to Shoot Him

At the time police arrived, Abrudan was still breathing and was flown to a nearby hospital. That wasn’t enough to save her, however. An autopsy revealed she suffered chop wounds and other injuries to her face, skull and hands caused by hatchet blows. One of Abrudan’s hands was split down the middle, and she also had cuts and bruises along her legs.

Loga-Negru injured his knee when he swung the hatchet at his wife and missed. A search of his motel room found binoculars, gloves, a black stocking cap, order of protection papers, passports and Romanian ID cards. Loga-Negru has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Romania.