Clare man accused of threatening to kill wife

SYCAMORE – A Clare man accused of throwing his wife across the kitchen and previously threatening to kill her was ordered to be released on his signature Thursday.

Andrew J. Rader, 47, of the 25000 block of Clare Road, is charged with domestic battery, which is punishable by less than a year in jail.

In a petition for an order of protection filed by his wife and granted Thursday morning, his wife said that on numerous occasions, Rader threatened her life and described ways in which he has fantasized about killing her and their three children.

Police said in court records that while one of their children was in the living room and another was upstairs Sunday, the victim saw Rader rifling through her purse in the kitchen, and that when she tried to take it away, he grabbed her by the arm and threw her against the wall and table, sending her to the floor.

She wrote in her petition that she blacked out for a minute, and when Rader tried to pick her up, she told him not to touch her, and the children took her to the hospital, court records show.

In the petition, she described previous acts of abuse, dating back as far as seven years ago, the records show.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Klein said that because of Rader’s substantial income with Fermilab and consulting clients on the side, what was most important was that he be ordered to have no contact with the victim and their children, that he be placed on electronic home monitoring, and that he surrender any firearms and his firearm owner’s identification card.

“There are guns in the home,” Klein said, “and I believe both the victim and the defendant have valid FOID cards, and that the victim has voluntarily turned over some of the guns to the sheriff’s office. We have concerns about her safety and the safety of the children.”

Acknowledging Rader’s “substantial income,” Judge Philip Montgomery ruled that Rader be released on his signature, but that all Klein’s requests be included as conditions of his bond. He also ordered that Rader wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet.

“Basically, you’re going to be able to post bond no matter what I set it at,” Montgomery said.

Rader said he plans to live with a friend in Aurora, and that he will hire a lawyer. He’s due back in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 21.