Chicago murder suspect nabbed near Glacier

A man suspected of killing his girlfriend's mother in Illinois led Montana police on a chase east of Glacier National Park, eluding officers until they boxed in his car and brought it to a halt in the town of Cut Bank, authorities said Wednesday. Daniel Baker, 21, waived extradi t ion Wednesday and will return to Illinois today to face first-degree murder charges in the killing of 50-year-old Marina Aksman, Glacier County Attorney Larry Epstein said. His girlfriend, Kristina Aksman, 21, also was in the car and has been placed in protective custody. The couple have not been seen since Marina Aksman was found beaten to death in a bedroom in the family home in Vernon Hills, Ill., Thursday. Kristina Aksman had been listed by police in Vernon Hills as "endangered and missing." Police there have said it was unclear whether the daughter is taking her mental health medication. She reportedly has a seizure disorder, as well as developmental delays. "She reacts to things on about 10- or 12-yearold level," Epstein said. A deputy on U.S. Highway 2 east of Cut Bank tried to stop Baker as he was speeding in Marina Aksman's car Monday night with Kristina Aksman in the passenger seat, Glacier County Undersheriff Jeff Fauque said. Baker would not stop, and three sheriff's cars and two police cars from Cut Bank became involved in the chase. They surrounded the car and force it to a halt. Baker and Aksman were physically removed from the car and arrested, Fauque said. "There weren't any tremendously high speeds involved, they were just failing to yield," Fauque said. Police in Glacier County ran a check on the couple and found they were persons of interest in the Illinois killing. Four detectives from a major crimes task force in the Chicago area arrived Tuesday to conduct interviews. An extradition hearing was held Wednesday in which Baker agreed to return to Illinois. Epstein said he plans to drop the Montana charges this morning. "This kid has a lot more to deal with than our traffic and endangerment charges," Epstein said. Baker has retained a lawyer but Glacier County officials do not know his name. Aksman will also return to Illinois with the deputies and be turned over to her family, Fauque said.