Man Who Stabbed Woman At Naperville Hotel Sentenced To 20 Years

NAPERVILLE, IL — A Chicago man who was convicted of attempted murder in the 2022 stabbing of a woman at a hotel in Naperville has been sentenced t0 20 years in prison.

Willie Tidwell, 53, pleaded guilty of attempted murder in 2025 in connection with the Sept. 10, 2022 incident.

Tidwell and the woman, whom he knew romantically, were at the Extended Stay Hotel on Center Point Circle around 9:17 p.m. when they got into an argument. Police say Tidwell hit the woman repeatedly before drawing a knife and stabbing the woman a total of 11 times in her neck, chest and stomach, then fleeing the scene.

Tidwell was taken into custody in Calumet City on Sept. 30.

“The brutal attack of an innocent woman who was left for dead alone in a hotel room, beaten and stabbed multiple times, is a stark reminder that domestic violence continues to plague society,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “The survivor of this horrendous attack will carry physical and emotional scars with her for the rest of her life and I wish her strength as she copes with the aftermath of what Mr. Tidwell has done to her. Domestic violence remains a top priority of my office, and we remain committed to holding individuals who choose violence accountable for their actions. While we are all extremely grateful that the victim has survived her injuries, this case underscores the devastating impact domestic violence has not only on the survivors, but on society."

Tidwell is required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.