Lake County Gazette

Lake County State's Attorney candidate, Mary Cole, recently commented on a crime incident through a social media post. Cole, who is set to challenge incumbent Eric Rinehart in the upcoming general election, shared an article from the Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

"Thank you to the men and women of the Libertyville Police Department and the Waukegan Police Department," said Cole, according to Facebook. "I'm highly disturbed to learn the details of the crime. I am pleased the child has been found, and the mother is now under medical care. If you have information that could help police, please call 911."

According to her Facebook post, Cole relayed details of an April 5 incident involving a man, a woman, and a baby as reported by the Lake & McHenry County Scanner. The report indicated that The Libertyville Police Department responded to a domestic battery incident around 8:47 p.m. on April 5. "The article said the man fled the scene and that the woman’s child was in the vehicle, a 2008 Ford Escape," she stated. The infant and vehicle were later recovered by the Waukegan Police Department while the man managed to escape from the area. According to Lake & McHenry County Scanner, no further information was released.

Screenshot of Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney April 6 Facebook post. | Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney Facebook page

The Daily Herald also provided coverage of this incident. It reported that "the man involved in the case was the father of the baby, who was found with the vehicle." The child was subsequently taken to a local hospital for examination along with the woman involved in this case. The adult female victim had non-life-threatening issues when she was transported.

Cole has previously served as an assistant state’s attorney in Lake County and during her campaign for November 2024 election, she has emphasized her commitment to addressing issues such as low morale and inadequate attorney training within her office. She is currently a partner at Brady Cole Trial Lawyers and boasts experience in both prosecution and defense roles with a strong track record handling cases involving DUIs, domestic battery, and orders of protection.

In November last year, Cole officially filed her candidacy for Lake County State’s Attorney position. She pledged compassion and accountability for her office while expressing commitment towards her role. Criticizing incumbent Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Cole pointed out a perceived decline in prosecutions, an increase in crime, and a state of chaos within the office under his leadership. These concerns align with Cole’s campaign focus on bringing positive change to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office, according to a news release from Lake County Gazette.