Prosecutor: Accused Murderer Said 'Let Him Die,' Bail Set at $250,000

Carl M. Spoeri, 55, of La Grange Park, stood in bond court this morning in a red shirt and track pants, showing no emotion as the state's attorney read the charges against him.

in the death of his stepdaughter's boyfriend, Bojan Zigic, 26, of Brookfield, who police said died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday from injuries sustained during a fight between the two men Monday evening in La Grange Park.

Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Sara McGann requested a $5 million bond, but the judge set bond at $250,000. Spoeri will need to post $25,000 to be released. As a condition of bond, Spoeri is to have no contact with Zigic's family, other than the 3-month-old child of Zigic and Spoeri's stepdaughter, who lives in Spoeri's home on the 200 block of Kings Court in La Grange Park.

According to McGann, Spoeri's stepdaughter and Zigic had been living at Spoeri's home for the past nine months. Following an argument between Spoeri's stepdaughter and her mother on Monday morning, the couple was told to move out.

Zigic and his girlfriend returned to the home later in the day to pick up their belongings with a few friends, McGann said. They were almost finished when Spoeri came home from work and got into an argument with Zigic in front of the house.

Zigic was punched in the head twice and then slapped in the face before falling to the ground and hitting his head on the bumper of a car, knocking him unconscious, McGann said.

According to McGann, Spoeri then said to his stepdaughter, "Let Bojan die. He's not worth it."

Police were called to the home at 8 p.m. on Monday for a report of an injured man. Zigic was taken by La Grange Park ambulance to Loyola University Medical Hospital in Maywood where he underwent surgery to reduce swelling in his brain. He never regained consciousness, McGann said in court.

Spoeri's attorney, James Chess, said that he planned to dispute the charge of first-degree murder. He  said that it was unreasonable for Spoeri to know that striking a healthy 26-year-old man twice in the head would lead to his death. Additionally, Chess said, it was Zigic's head striking the bumper that killed him, not Spoeri's punches.

Chess added that his client was genuinely remorseful for Zigic's death.

Chess argued that his client was not a flight risk and has shown that he will show up for court appearances in the past. He said he is the family's primary means of financial support and he would lose his job if he did not return to work. Spoeri has worked as a mechanic at UPS for the past 20 years and as a part-time mechanic in Berwyn. 

Ultimately, Judge Stanley L. Hill ordered bond would be set at $250,000.

Following the decision, Spoeri's wife said their daughter had not left home and was not asked to leave. Zigic was told he would need to start paying rent in order to support his family if he wanted to stay.

Spoeri is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 30 for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. in room 102 at the Cook County Courthouse in Maywood.