Boyfriend Charged With Hitting, Choking Girlfriend During Quarrel

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park man is accused of hitting and choking his girlfriend on their way home from a bar. He also held her captive in their bedroom once they reached home, prosecutors said in court Monday.

Lawrence Murillo, 31, of the 16000 block of South Olcott Avenue, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of aggravated domestic battery, unlawful restraint and possession of a controlled substance. The prosecutor said Murillo has two pending drug cases.

According to the charges, Murillo and his girlfriend were arguing on their way home from a bar on Aug. 14 when Murillo hit the woman and squeezed her neck until she couldn’t breathe. Murillo’s girlfriend made it to the bedroom once they reached home.

The prosecutor said that Murillo choked the woman a second time until she couldn’t breathe and would not let her leave the bedroom. Murillo allegedly took his girlfriend’s phone and would not let her make calls.

While being held in the bedroom, the prosecutor said Murillo made threatening gestures. Finally, the woman said she had to go to the bathroom, where she called police. Officers also found 15 grams of suspected cocaine when searching Murillo.

The judge set bail at $150,000. He ordered Murillo not to have contact with his girlfriend and random drug testing should he bond out.

In addition to the new charge, two violations of bail bond were filed against Murillo. He has a court hearing scheduled for Aug. 30

Felice said Murillo was only allowed to go back to his residence to pick up his personal belongings with a Tinley Park police officer.

“If she says that doesn’t belong to you, you leave it,” the judge said.

Murillo is due back in court for the new charge Sept. 9 in Bridgeview.

Lawrence Murillo, 31 | Cook County Sheriff