Police: Comment about beer in a wine glass led to fatal stabbing
BY MITCH DUDEK AND DAN ROZEK Staff Reporters February 5, 2012 9:42AM
Daniel Olaska has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Naperville. | Submitted February 4, 2012
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Updated: March 7, 2012 9:49AM
The fatal stabbing of a second-grade teacher in a Naperville nightclub was reportedly sparked by a snide comment about the alleged murderer drinking beer from a wine glass — leaving family, friends and even prosecutors struggling to make sense of the violence.
Daniel J. Olaska, 27, the accused murderer, gave a full confession and even re-enacted for Naperville police the events leading up to the fatal stabbing early Saturday of Shaun Wild, 24, who taught at Spring Brook Elementary in Naperville.
But friends and family described Olaska as an Eagle Scout who’s active in his church’s youth group when he’s not working his job as a manager at Schaumburg Regional Airport. “He has no criminal history, I don’t think this guy’s ever had a parking ticket,” said Olaska’s attorney Earl Grinbarg.
A DuPage County judge set bond at $3 million Sunday for Olaska, who is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the stabbings. Olaska’s family attended the hearing along with several parishioners from their church, Grace Christian Fellowship.
Prosecutors say Willie Hayes, a senior on North Central College’s football team, ribbed Olaska about drinking beer from the wine glass at Frankie’s Blue Room in downtown Naperville — after which, things escalated quickly. Sources told the Sun-Times Olaska had been taunting Hayes — a muscular, tattooed college senior and defensive end — for wearing a tight shirt.
The confrontation prompted Wild, of Lisle, who is a former football pal of Hayes’ from his days at the Naperville college, to try to “defuse” the squabble, which seemingly was settled peacefully when Hayes and Olaska shook hands, officials said.
“He was just trying to defuse the situation,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said of Wild.
The violence exploded suddenly when Olaska allegedly pulled a 5-inch-long folding knife with a serated blade from his waistband and lunged at the other two men — cutting Wild’s arm and piercing Hayes’ chest.
As the 5-foot 9-inch, 195-pound Olaska abruptly turned and tried to walk away, Wild tried to stop him from leaving and was stabbed to death, officials said.
There were no punches thrown — or even any pushing or shoving — before Olaska allegedly stabbed Wild and a bouncer, officials said.
“There’s no indications at all this was self-defense,” Berlin said of the stabbings. “It’s utterly senseless. There’s no explanation.”
Hayes was taken to Edward Hospital and was in fair condition.
“It’s every family’s nightmare — on both sides of the story,” said a friend of Olaska who asked not to be named. The friend said Olaska had a religious upbringing and lives at home in Naperville with his parents.
Olaska, who has a master’s degree in aviation, recently orchestrated a tour of the airport for his cousin’s Boy Scout troop, said the friend, who added that Olaska has not had problems with drugs or alcohol. “And he has no history of violence or temper flare ups.”
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