Stuart Cole was granted an order of protection against his son in 2007 after telling authorities that his son threw a set of pliers at him and threatened to kill his parents and himself, according to court records.
Eventually, the order expired, and Cole and his wife, Barbara, decided to let their son move back into their home in Arlington Heights.
“Like many parents do, you raise your kid the best of you can. You weaken at certain points, and you want to help him and let him back in the house,” Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Kenneth Galinski said.
That home became a crime scene early Tuesday after authorities said Stuart Cole’s son called police to report that he had killed his father. After a brief standoff, police took Cole’s son into custody at about 1 a.m. Tuesday and found Stuart Cole, 69, apparently beaten to death in the house in the quiet, leafy neighborhood.
Police said the son, who turned 41 on Tuesday, according to court records, is expected to be charged with his father’s murder as early as Wednesday.
The son, who was hospitalized under police guard Tuesday, had a history of mental illness and an extensive arrest record, court records show.
Arlington Heights police said they have responded to numerous domestic disturbance calls by the Coles about their son and once required six officers to subdue him. Galinski said the son was a former martial-arts fighter who was “very strong and very intimidating.”
Cook County court records also show that Cole’s son arrest record dates to 1990 and includes charges of domestic battery in 2000 and 2010, battery in 2005 and 2009, and aggravated assault in 2007.
Most of those charges were eventually dropped, though the son pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charge, according to court records. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property in 2005 and received two days in jail, records show.
Police said Barbara Cole, who is being treated for a serious illness, was not at home in the 2600 block of North Stratford Road at the time. The couple’s daughter lives elsewhere, officials said.
Following his surrender, the son was taken to Northwest Community Hospital.
Michelle Stoffel is a Tribune reporter; George Houde is a freelance reporter. Tribune reporter William Lee contributed.
