DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Bartlett Chief of Police Geoffrey Pretkelis announced Friday, July 5, 2024 that Judge Jeffrey MacKay granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Hoffman Estates man accused of violently beating his girlfriend and kidnapping her at knifepoint. Christopher Krontiris, age 25, of the block of 900 Evanston Street in southeast Hoffman Estates, appeared at First Appearance Court yesterday charged with one count of Aggravated Kidnapping (Class X Felony), one count of Home Invasion – Dangerous Weapon (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Domestic Battery (Class 2 Felony).
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the female victim, age 24, was reported as missing by her family. Following an investigation into the disappearance, it was learned that the victim and Krontiris were at a bar in Hanover Park when the two of them got into a verbal altercation. Hanover Park police responded to the altercation at the bar and removed Krontiris from the bar while the victim left and returned to a home in Bartlett where she was housesitting. When the victim returned to the home in Bartlett, Krontiris, allegedly let himself into the home through an unlocked door, and waited for her. Allegedly, once the victim was inside the home, Krontiris physically attacked her. Krontiris allegedly pushed her into a wall several times, struck her multiple times, choked her twice and dragged her along the floor of the house causing extensive bruising on the left side of her body. Krontiris armed himself with a nine-inch kitchen knife, held it to his victim’s neck and head and cut her on her forehead and back. After the attack, Krontiris took his victim’s cell phone and forced her at knifepoint into her vehicle which he then drove to Michigan and later to Michigan City, Indiana. Allegedly during the violent incident, Krontiris repeatedly told the victim that he should kill her and threatened to stab her, rape her, kill her, break her legs, and put her body in a river. Authorities ultimately located Krontiris and his victim in Michigan City, where Krontiris was taken into custody. Krontiris waived extradition from Indiana.
“The allegations against Mr. Krontiris are shocking. The violent beating, choking, threatening at knifepoint and abduction, as alleged in this case, of an innocent woman will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law. I thank the Bartlett Police Department for their outstanding work in the identification and apprehension of the defendant, as well as the Michigan City, Indiana Police Department, DuPage MERIT, the Secret Service and the FBI for their extended efforts in this case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Cathy Nusgart and Michael Fisher for their work in securing charges against Mr. Krontiris.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of the members of the Bartlett Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies who worked together to ensure the victim’s safe return. Their unwavering commitment, coordination, and relentless pursuit of justice were instrumental in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion. I also thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their legal guidance.”
Krontiris’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 22, 2024, in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— Bartlett Chief of Police Geoffrey Pretkelis
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