Trial of Crystal Lake man accused of attacking wife with hatchet delayed until March

The trial of a Crystal Lake man charged with the attempted murder of his wife with a hatchet and hammer in 2022 has been pushed to March 31 after it was scheduled to start Tuesday.

Mark Alex, 60, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, five counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and endangering a child, court records show.

The trial was due to start Tuesday in front of Judge Mark Gerhardt, but the defense attorney representing Alex, Daniel Hofmann, filed a motion seeking the delay. The defense is seeking to bring in an additional police officer and registered nurse as witnesses, according to court documents.

Alex has been in custody at the McHenry County jail since being arrested at an Algonquin hotel the day of the alleged attack.

Wilma Alex – formerly Wilma Wenceslao Morales, who met Mark Alex in 2014 on a Filipino dating site – had filed for divorce in 2021. A year later, on the afternoon of March 5, 2022, Mark Alex allegedly went to her apartment and attacked her with a hatchet and hammer, according to court documents.

The recording of a 911 call, a text message and police body camera footage of a bloodied Wilma Alex in her Crystal Lake apartment are expected to be shown at the trial. It appears the jury also may hear of previous police reports of alleged domestic violence.

Wilma Alex has been subpoenaed by the defense to take the stand, according to court documents. Other witnesses include Crystal Lake police officers, a registered nurse and a dispatcher.