Sept. 22--A man who was once shot by police after escaping from prison has been charged with murder in the death of his father near McHenry, officials said.
Michael L. Bakker, 46, of McHenry, was accused of first-degree murder late last week in the shooting death of his father, Daniel Bakker, 69.
The elder Bakker was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head Thursday morning at his home outside McHenry, police said. McHenry County sheriff's police had responded to a 911 call from someone who found the body, and officers asked the McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team to investigate.
According to the complaint against Michael Bakker, he shot his father with a pistol "without lawful justification" on or about Sept. 4. After that, he told other family members and associates that his father was still alive and getting medical treatment but was unable to talk, and he texted family members using his father's phone, pretending to be his father, though he knew his father was dead, the complaint stated.
An initial arrest warrant was issued for concealment of a homicidal death, task force Cmdr. John Birk said.
During the investigation, police tracked Michael Bakker to a motel in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he was arrested without incident, Birk said.
After interviewing him and collecting further evidence, Bakker was charged, Birk said. Bakker's bond was set at $5 million.
In 1996, he was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of a stolen license plate, records show.
In 1997, he escaped from a prison farm at Stateville Correctional Center and was accused of stealing a car in Volo before leading police on a high-speed chase through McHenry. He was caught in a cornfield and, after he raised a replica handgun at officers, a state SWAT team member shot him in the back, police said.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison after that escape and was listed in state records as having completed his sentence.
rmccoppin@tribpub.com
