Cook County Prosecutors Secure 18-year Prison Sentence in Hate Motivated Attempt Murder Case

CHICAGO – The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced today that Timothy House, 33, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to Attempt First Degree Murder and Hate Crime charges stemming from a violent attack against a 55-year-old man because of his sexual orientation.

House accepted the court’s offer on June 24, 2026, at the Cook County Courthouse in Bridgeview and was sentenced to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Attempt First Degree Murder and 3 years for Hate Crime. The sentences will be served concurrently.

According to prosecutors, on December 22, 2025, House attacked the victim, a fellow resident of a Chicago halfway house, stabbing and beating him multiple times. During the attack, the knife blade broke off the handle and the defendant picked up the blade and continued the assault.  The victim survived despite suffering serious injuries. House admitted during the investigation that he targeted the victim’s sexual orientation and intended to kill him.

“This defendant targeted another person because of who he was and attempted to take his life,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke.  “Hate-fueled motivated violence causes lasting harm to victims and communities alike. This conviction reflects the dedicated work of our Hate Crimes Unit and law enforcement to ensure these crimes are met with accountability.”  

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Goldberg of the CCSAO’s Hate Crime Unit, which is part of the office’s Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau. and specializes in the prosecution of bias-motivated offenses. The unit was established to engage with stakeholders, encourage the reporting of hate crimes and ensure that cases are effectively and consistently prosecuted. To strengthen the office’s responses to hate crimes, the unit also developed a specialized training curriculum, for an inaugural class of 15 Assistant State’s Attorneys who have volunteered to build community engagement and prosecute hate crimes in addition to their regular courtroom responsibilities.  

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