New Details Of Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct 2 Girs In Hickory Hills

HICKORY HILLS, IL—A Willow Springs man with eight pending sexually charged cases told police he was looking for young girls and wasn’t going to stop until he found one after he tried kidnapping two underage girls in Hickory Hills, prosecutors said.

Nicholas Hayes, 29, appeared Friday before Cook County Judge William Fahy on two felony charges of attempted kidnapping. His detention hearing had been postponed the day before to gather paperwork from surrounding counties from his other pending cases. He departed the courtroom telling the judge, “Bless you.”

Hayes’ day unfolded early on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when the prosecutor said Hayes was captured on neighbors’ Ring cameras removing the front and back license plates off his silver Hyundai Tucson. Around 12:30 p.m., he was trolling Hickory Hills, spotting a 14-year-old girl who had just left Planet Fitness at 96th Street and Roberts Road, the prosecutor said.

Hayes is said to have asked the girl how old she was, and she responded, “None of your business.”

“It is my business,” according to the complaint said.

The prosecutor said Hayes tried to block the 14-year-old in with his truck demanding that she get in his vehicle. Everywhere the girl tried to move, the prosecutor said Hayes followed her in a silver Hyundai Tucson.

The 14-year-old continued moving through the strip mall, eventually taking refuge at a hair salon located a block away. As the girl sought refuge in the hair salon, an adult employee called police. The adult employee described the 14-year-old as “terrified.”

When Hayes lost the 14-year-old girl, the prosecutor said he moved on, spotting a 15-year-old girl eight minutes later, who was also leaving Planet Fitness. Hayes is said to have asked how old she was. When the girl said “15,” he allegedly responded, “You're perfect.”

The prosecutor said Hayes became increasingly aggressive, demanding that she get into the vehicle. The 15-year-old started running when Hayes is said to have gotten out of his vehicle, chasing her to 95th Street.

Another adult witness noticed a man chasing a young girl through the street and called him off. The prosecutor said Hayes went back to his vehicle and drove away. A business owner let the 15-year-old shelter in his store. She, too, was described as “shaking and terrified.”

Both girls described the driver of a white Hyundai Tucson to Hickory Hills police as a heavy set, white male with blond hair. Hickory Hills police combed area security cameras and identified a white Hyundai Tucson without front or back plates. An alert was put out to surrounding towns.

The Hyundai was detected by a Flock ALPR camera and by officers from the Willow Springs Police Department approximately an hour later. Hayes was stopped at 87th Street and Oakwood in Willow Springs.

Hayes is also accused of resisting arrest. When a Willow Springs police officer cuffed had Hayes’ left hand, the prosecutor said Hayes swung around and threw the officer to the ground. Hayes is also purported to have grabbed the police chief in a chokehold, telling the chief to “go to sleep.” The prosecutor said Hayes eventually let go of the chief’s neck.

He allegedly told Hickory Hills police post-Miranda, he is a lonely person looking for some love. Hayes also indicated to police that he observed the 15-year-old near 95th Street and Roberts Road. The prosecutor said Hayes described her as a pretty girl that he could take care of, but she refused to listen to him and fled. He further stated to police that he was looking for young girls and for love and wasn’t going to stop until he found it.

The prosecutor said since March, Hayes has racked up eight pending cases in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties, two of which have arrest warrants, for public indecency and disorderly conduct, continuing through this past week.

Hayes is accused of masturbating during sessions in front of female therapists. He reportedly sent emails to two of them the next day, asking if they were still his therapist.

In DuPage County, Hayes is alleged to have driven onto a soccer field with children present in Burr Ridge, shouting that he was looking for his princess.

“He admitted this to Burr Ridge police,” the prosecutor said. “He is a threat to every single child in multiple counties.”

The assistant public defender told the judge that Hayes lived with his parents and claims to suffer from epilepsy. She requested Hayes be released with conditions.

Judge Fahy said he didn’t have enough fingers on his hands to count Hayes’ many pending cases.

“He is every parent’s worst nightmare. ‘Stranger Danger’ lurking around during the day looking for children,” the judge stated. “Pretrial release upon retrial release, and arrest warrants haven’t been able to deter him.”

Hayes was ordered detained to Cook County Jail. His next court appearance is Nov. 2 in Bridgeview.