By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
James Jackson | Illinois Dept. of Corrections
More than 10 years ago, James Jackson stabbed his girlfriend multiple times and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Last month, Angelique McClellan died of injuries from that attack, and Jackson is now facing a murder charge.
Jackson, 38, was sentenced to 28 years after being convicted of attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery for the July 21, 2006, incident in the Austin neighborhood where they lived, Assistant State’s Attorney Liam Reardon said during a bond hearing Thursday.
McClellan, 30, was paralyzed from the waist down after the stabbing and was permanently confined to a wheelchair, Reardon said.
She died at 7:54 p.m. June 12 at Kindred Hospital Chicago in west suburban Northlake, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
McClellan and Jackson had been in a dating relationship for four years and had two children together, Reardon said. But on July 20, 2006, the couple got into a fight and McClellan asked Jackson to move out of their apartment in the 100 block of North Lorel.
Angelique McClellan | Facebook
Early the next morning, McClellan was in front of the apartment building with two of their neighbors when Jackson walked up and forced her into the hallway, Reardon said. He then stabbed her 15 times in the neck, arms, chest and back.
Jackson walked out of the building still holding the knife, covered in McClellan’s blood, Reardon said. While the victim pretended to be dead, Jackson walked into the building a second time and stabbed her again. Jackson’s sister was at the scene by this time and pushed him off of McClellan.
Jackson then dropped the knife and ran away, Reardon said. A neighbor witnessed the incident, before, during and after the stabbing.
Jackson avoided arrest until May 2007, when he turned himself into Chicago Police after being featured on the TV show “Fugitive Hunters,” Reardon said.
An autopsy June 14 ruled McClellan died of complications from multiple sharp-force injuries, the medical examiner’s office said. Her death was ruled a homicide.
The charge against Jackson was subsequently upgraded to first-degree murder. During Thursday’s hearing, Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil set bond at $1 million.
Jackson remains in state custody for the initial conviction and his projected parole date is March 2031.