Accused Murderer to Claim Self-Defense in Naperville Bar Stabbing

Daniel Olaska (booking photo) is accused in the 2012 stabbing death of teacher Shaun Wild.

The man accused of stabbing a Naperville teacher to death at a downtown Naperville bar in 2012 will argue that he acted in self-defense, his attorneys said this week.

Shaun Wild, 24, died after a fight broke out in the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2012, at Frankie’s Blue Room.

His accused killer, 30-year-old Daniel Olaska, is scheduled to stand trial on first-degree murder charges starting March 2, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Olaska is also accused of stabbing Wild’s friend and a bar employee who intervened during the altercation.

Prosecutors have said Wild’s friend, Lemont native Willie Hayes, was sitting at a table with Olaska and made a comment about Olaska drinking beer out of a wine glass. Olaska took offense, prosecutors allege, and as the incident escalated, Olaska allegedly took out a folding knife.

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After Olaksa allegedly stabbed Hayes, Wild was fatally injured while attempting to prevent Olaska from leaving the bar, prosecutors have said. Bouncer Raphael Castenada attempted to get Olaska under control and was also stabbed in the arm, according to police.

Once in police custody, Olaska allegedly admitted to the stabbing.

A native of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, Wild graduated from North Central College in Naperville, where he had played football, and was a second-grade teacher at Spring Brook Elementary School.

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North Central College and family and friends have established the Shaun Wild Memorial Fund in Wild’s honor.