Illinois Man with History of Random Attacks Against Women Arrested Again
In a concerning case highlighting issues with repeat offenders in the criminal justice system, 32-year-old William Livingston of Chicago has been arrested yet again after allegedly assaulting two women in public. Apprehended on November 12 by Chicago Police and U.S. Marshals, Livingston now faces two felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place for an incident that occurred on June 12, where he allegedly struck a 29-year-old and a 40-year-old woman. This latest arrest adds to Livingston’s lengthy history of similar attacks against women in public spaces, raising questions about the effectiveness of the system in protecting the public from individuals with established patterns of violent behavior.
The recent arrest comes after Livingston had already been in custody for another violent incident. In August, surveillance footage captured him approaching Kathleen Miles, a mother of eleven, from behind as she walked to a train station with a coworker. Without provocation, Livingston allegedly punched Miles with such force that she was knocked unconscious. Miles later expressed her shock, saying, “All I can think of is it takes so much anger to hit someone with so much force. There’s no way to be prepared for this.” For this attack, Livingston was charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. The seemingly random nature of the attack follows a disturbing pattern in Livingston’s behavior over the past decade.
Perhaps most alarming is the breadth of Livingston’s criminal history, which spans at least seven prior arrests over the last decade for similar assaults. One of the more notable incidents occurred in 2022, when DePaul University student Cami Blechschmidt was waiting for a Lyft after visiting Starbucks. Blechschmidt recounted the terrifying experience: “I felt a hand in my pocket, turned my head like that and there was a man directly in front of me, and he punched me directly in the face.” Police apprehended Livingston shortly after this assault, and investigators discovered he had allegedly attacked four women in the same area within a mere 22-minute period, resulting in four felony counts of aggravated battery.
The recurring nature of Livingston’s alleged crimes has led to frustration among victims who question why he has repeatedly been allowed back on the streets despite his pattern of unprovoked attacks against women. After her 2022 assault, Blechschmidt expressed her concerns about the system’s apparent failure to address the danger Livingston posed to the community, stating, “I think that he’s definitely a repeat offender. They’re not doing anything to keep him in.” Her sentiment echoes a broader concern about how the criminal justice system handles individuals with clear patterns of violent behavior, particularly those who target vulnerable individuals in public spaces without apparent motive.
The Cook County State Attorney’s Office has responded to inquiries about Livingston’s case, noting that while they could not comment specifically on prior incidents or pending cases, they evaluate each case based on available evidence and applicable law. They emphasized that prosecutors seek pre-trial detention for dangerous individuals when appropriate, pointing out that after Livingston’s August court appearance, the office filed a petition for detention that was granted by the court. Following additional investigation, Livingston was charged in a new case related to a July incident and currently remains in custody at Cook County Jail. This response suggests that authorities are now taking steps to keep Livingston detained as his cases proceed through the legal system.
Livingston’s case exemplifies challenges faced by urban centers dealing with repeat offenders who commit seemingly random acts of violence in public spaces. With arrests dating back to at least 2015—including aggravated assault charges in 2015 and 2016, and multiple arrests in 2017—questions arise about what interventions might have prevented the subsequent attacks that affected women like Miles and Blechschmidt. The case highlights ongoing debates about the balance between defendants’ rights and public safety, especially when dealing with individuals who demonstrate persistent patterns of unprovoked violence. As Livingston remains in custody facing multiple charges, his victims and the broader Chicago community await to see whether the justice system will provide both accountability and the public protection that has seemingly been lacking in the past.
