Judge sets bond at $1M for suspect in knife attack

Bond has been set at $1 million for a Leaf River man accused of stabbing a Leaf River couple in their home late Sunday afternoon.

Michael W. Mitchell, 26, appeared Monday afternoon at a bond hearing before Ogle County Judge Robert Hanson.

Mitchell has been charged with home invasion, a Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated battery.

He is accused of stabbing David Zellers, 50, and his wife, Denise Zellers, 47, multiple times using two knives he carried with him after he broke into their home at 205 E. Second St., just after 4:30 p.m. July 3.

Both were transported by Mt. Morris and Leaf River ambulances to Swedish American Hospital, Rockford.

David was released later that evening, and Denise was released July 5.

Throughout his court appearance July 5, Mitchell, a medium built man with a shaved head, sat silent.

"The complaints are for home invasion, a class X felony," Hanson said. "The defendant made forced entry into a residence. I will find probable cause. If convicted, home invasion has a mandatory jail sentence."

Hanson said a class X felony carries a jail sentence of 6 to 30 years and up to a $25,000 fine.

On the two aggravated battery charges, the possible penalty is 3 to 5 years in prison for each.

Assistant state's attorney Emily Siefert asked for bond to be set at $1 million.

"The defendant has a criminal history in Florida including aggravated assault," Siefert said.

Hanson granted the bond request along with conditions.

"It is $100,000 to get out of jail," said Hanson told Mitchell.

A condition of the bond is no contact with the victims or their family directly or indirectly.

Hanson asked Mitchell if he could hire an attorney. 

After some silence, Mitchell said, "No, I can't hire an attorney."

Hanson set a hearing for Friday morning to appoint a public defender and re-evaluate the bond and its conditions.

Sheriff Michael Harn said the investigation indicates that Mitchell first had an argument with David Zellers on the telephone. Mitchell then went to the Zellers' home, broke in, and attacked the couple with the two knives he carried.

Harn said Mitchell had called Zellers to complain about the quality of the village water supply.

Zellers is employed by the Village of Leaf River in the maintenance department and was on call for the weekend.

After the attack, Mitchell eluded police for almost five hours.

He was arrested at 9:19 p.m. as he attempted to gain entrance to another residence in the same neighborhood, police said.

Mitchell hid in the neighborhood and possibly in a nearby cornfield after the stabbings.

He apparently also broke into the Leaf River Historical Museum on East Third Street (Ill. 72) while he was eluding capture.

The museum, a former church, is approximately a block from the Zellers' home.

Search dogs from the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department's K-9 Unit assisted Ogle County deputies.

Mitchell was finally apprehended after a short foot chase and has been held in the Ogle County Jail since being taken into custody.

The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation personnel assisted at the scene.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Ogle County Sheriff's Office at 815-732-2136 or Ogle/Lee Crime Stoppers at 1-888-228-4488.


Ogle County News Reporter Chris Johnson contributed to this story.