Police Probe 2011 Cold Case After Man Charged In Stabbing Death

ALGONQUIN, IL — Authorities in McHenry County are once again taking a closer look at a 2011 cold case involving an eye doctor’s wife who died following a two-vehicle collision while he was behind the wheel. Anthony Prate, now 55 years old, was charged with first-degree murder last month in the stabbing death of his girlfriend in Schaumburg.

The recent allegations have prompted both the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Lake in the Hills Police Department to release a joint statement annoucing they would "continue to evaluate incoming information for any bearing it may have on the tragic death of Bridget Prate in 2011.

The March 2011 crash occurred near the intersection of Pyott Road and McPhee Drive, authorities said. Anthony Prate was driving with Bridget riding as a passenger when their 2009 Nissan crossed the center line and hit a 2008 Chevrolet SUV head on. When authorities arrived at the scene, Bridget, 45, had no pulse and bystanders had witnessed Anthony give his wife of 19 years mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Bridget was taken to Centegra Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Anthony later told authorities the couple had bought their two young children pizza and left them at home and were headed to Crystal Lake to buy a TV when the collision occurred, according to the Chicago Tribune. An autopsy performed by Dr. Mark Witeck at the Kane County Coroner's Office could not pinpoint Bridget’s cause of death, which was ultimately ruled “undetermined.”

Witeck noted the 45-year-old woman had a fractured vertebra in her neck but concluded that would not have killed her, according to the newspaper.

He also told Lake in the Hills Police he believed Bridget Prate was dead before the collision occurred, according to the Chicago Tribune. The case has been investigated over the years and authorities have called on additional experts to look into the crash but no arrests have been made

But the Nov. 23 stabbing death of Anthony Prate’s girlfriend has raised questions regarding the 2011 crash. Prate called Schaumburg police around 1:30 a.m. to the 300 block of Arbor Glen Boulevard and told officers he and his girlfriend and a fight involving a knife.

He told officers he and his girlfriend had a fight, according to media reports. He said both he and his girlfriend, Malgorzata Daniel, were injured.

An autopsy determined Daniel was killed by more than 20 “cutting injuries,” according to media reports. Prate is charged with first-degree murder and remains held without bail.

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