Crime & Safety

Gymnastics Coach Confessed To Prairie Path Attack: Cops

Matt Grover, charged in the Prairie Path attack, has been banned from a Bartlett gymnastics school where he used to work, the owners say.

WHEATON, IL — A 31-year-old youth gymnastics coach is charged with attacking a woman on Prairie Path in unincorporated Wheaton and suspected in several other attacks. Matthew D. Grover, of the 26W600 block of Lindsey Avenue in Winfield, is charged with one felony count of unlawful restraint and one felony count of aggravated battery on a public way, according to police. Grover admitted to another similar attack in September, police said.

Early Wednesday, Bartlett Gymnastics Center posted a message to parents saying Grover no longer works at the facility and is banned from the premises. The facility offers preschool, kindergarten and recreational tumbling and gymnastics classes, as well as competitive boys and girls teams.

"Tonight, we were shocked to find out about Matt Grover’s arrest earlier this evening. Please note this incident and arrest was unrelated to Bartlett Gymnastics," the owners of the gymnastics center said in a Facebook post. "However, he is no longer employed by Bartlett and is not allowed on the premises. Please be assured that safety is the number one priority at Bartlett. Our facility has completely open viewing where parents watch classes and practice, and the premises is under video surveillance 24/7."

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Police said the Prairie Path victim was walking on the trail at around 3 p.m. Monday when Grover approached her and grabbed her from behind. She was able to get free, and the suspect fled on foot, police said.

Police released a sketch of the suspect following Monday's attack on Prairie Path and quickly identified Grover as a possible suspect, DuPage County Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano said. Grover was placed under immediate surveillance, police said.

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Not only did Grover match the suspect description, police said, but one of his relatives owns a vehicle that is the same make, model and color as the vehicle — a 2006 blue Toyota Sienna minivan — detectives discovered soon after the attack. Police said they believe Grover used the vehicle to flee the area after the victim escaped.

Police said Grover was interviewed Tuesday by detectives and confessed to the attack, along with another assault in September.

"When confronted with the facts of a similar attack investigated by the Sheriff’s Office in late September of 2016, Grover also confessed to being the assailant in that attack," Bibbiano said. "Charges for that incident are pending the results of DNA testing."

Police said they are investigating three other incidents in which "Grover either approached or followed other women." Those incidents happened in neighboring communities and are being investigated by local police.

Bibbiano said detectives worked around the clock to catch Grover and thanked citizens who helped with the investigation.

“I’m proud of the steadfast manner in which our detectives worked this case," he said "It is this type of dedication to the citizens of DuPage County that makes our county not only a safer place to live, but a place where hardworking families and citizens need not live in fear, but where criminals do."

Grover appeared in bond court Wednesday morning. He told the judge he doesn't know if he can afford to post bail, according to the Daily Herald. His bond was set at $200,000.

>>Image via DuPage County Sheriff's Office


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