Teen Accused Of Uber Machete Murder Could Avoid Cook County Jail

SKOKIE, IL — The lawyer for a Chicago teen accused of hacking a Wilmette man to death with a machete and hunting knife last year in Lincolnwood filed a motion this week seeking to stop her from being transferred to Cook County Jail after she turns 18, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Eliza Wasni was 16 last year when she stole two blades from the Skokie Walmart, summoned her third ride of the night with the ride-hailing app and fatally stabbed 34-year-old Grant Nelson from behind, according to prosecutors.

Wasni has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and held without bond at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detenction Center since she was arrested around 3:30 a.m. on May 30, a few minutes after police were called to the intersection of North Lincoln and Touhy avenues to find a critically wounded Nelson.

Assistant Public Defender David McMahon filed a motion Monday asking Judge Lauren Edidin to block Wasni from being transferred to the county's adult jail when she turns 18 in December for unspecified reasons, according to the Tribune. Prosecutors said they plan to file a response to the motion at Wasni's next court date on Nov. 14 before the judge issues a ruling on the motion.

The judge has previously been told of medical and disciplinary issues during Wasni's pre-trial detention. Prosecutors said she has had to miss court appearances due to hospitalization, sufferent a concussion and other head injuries, attacked guards and attempted to harm herself, at one point appearing in court visibly bloody after authorities said she had repeatedly bashed her head into a wall.

Nelson and his family have been longtime supporters of the National Alliance for Mental Illness – Cook County North Suburban, which provides support and education around issues of mental illness. To carry on his memory, family members last month participated in organization's walk for the second year as the Grant Nelson's Legacy Walkers.

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