A southwest suburban man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday for the attempted murder of his former girlfriend in 2009.
Bradley Schlott, 48, was found guilty after a five-day jury trial in March, according to the Will County state’s attorney’s office.
Schlott, who believed his then-girlfriend was having an affair, attacked her on March 12, 2009, while she was getting ready for work in their Joliet home, according to a statement from prosecutors. Schlott repeatedly punched her in the face, grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground.
With his knees on her chest, Schlott began to choke her before pulling a large hunting knife from behind his back. He used the knife to cut away chunks of her hair, then sliced her neck and the side of her left breast, prosecutors said.
The girlfriend, bleeding and bruised, convinced Schlott to call 911, telling him she would say her injuries “were the result of an accident,” according to prosecutors.
Evidence at the trial included letters written by Schlott that proved “he had every intention of killing his girlfriend,” prosecutors said. One letter to the victim’s family apologized for her murder, but said she was having an affair and “had robbed him of his money, family, career, dignity and sanity.”
“This was a savage attack by a weak and jealous man who lashed out when he felt he could no longer control his girlfriend,” State’s Attorney James Glasgow said in the statement. “This courageous woman fought back and not only saved her own life, but she helped police and prosecutors put this monster behind bars.”
Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Schlott to 12 years in prison Wednesday.
