Attempted murder suspect cut off ankle bracelet

PEKIN -- Tazewell County authorities say an attempted murder suspect briefly triggered a nationwide alert when he allegedly cut off an ankle monitoring bracelet.

The suspect, 63-year-old Aaron "Garth" Baecker of Pekin, was recaptured Thursday evening.

Baecker was indicted Jan. 25 for the attempted first-degree murder of his wife and aggravated domestic battery. On Feb. 3, Baecker was released from the Tazewell County Justice Center on $250,000 bond, with the requirement that he wear the monitoring bracelet.

Sgt. John Horan of the Tazewell County Probation Department says Baecker cut off the device late Thursday afternoon.

Horan says authorities located the device a short time later and moved Baecker's wife to a safe location before recapturing her husband.