New information found during investigation leads to attempted murder charge for Quincy man

UPDATE 10 a.m. Aug. 28: Douglas is being held in the Clayton County Detention Center in Jonesboro, Ga. His case on the aggravated assault charge was dismissed Wednesday morning when First Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler filed a nolle prosequi — a formal entry of record by the prosecuting attorney who declares he or she is unwilling to prosecute a case. 

QUINCY — A Quincy man charged in July with aggravated assault for allegedly ramming his Tesla several times into a vehicle driven by his wife was arrested Tuesday afternoon at an Atlanta airport and faces a new charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Sgt. Adam Gibson with the Quincy Police Department said further investigation into a July 14 incident discovered additional information leading to the new charge for Carl Douglas, 48. He was taken into custody at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Patrol when he disembarked a plane Tuesday after returning from a trip to another country.

Douglas was being held at the airport Tuesday afternoon, and extradition plans for a return to Quincy are in the process, Gibson said.

Douglas is scheduled to appear in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning. However, Gibson doesn’t expect Douglas to be back in Adams County until next week. Drew Schnack made an entry on July 24 to appear as Douglas’ attorney, but he then made a motion to withdraw on Aug. 8. Gerald Timmerwilke made an entry to replace Schnack on Aug. 7 and since has made two motions for discovery.

Douglas was originally detained in the Adams County Jail after his July 18 arrest. He appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with Schnack on July 22 before Judge Josh Jones, who granted him pretrial release with several conditions — he reports to scheduled court appearances, keeps the Adams County Clerk advised of his address and doesn’t violate the law.

Carl Douglas also was ordered to stay 500 feet away from his wife, Katherine Douglas, and not contact her, directly or indirectly. That would include text messages, Facebook messages or contact through social media.

Charging documents filed July 22 indicated Douglas was charged with aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony punishable for between one and three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He allegedly rammed his vehicle several times on July 14 into a vehicle driven by Katherine Douglas.

An emergency order of protection against Carl Douglas was granted by Judge John Wooleyhan on July 17. Schnack said during the July 22 hearing that Katherine Douglas left the state after the July 14 incident.

Carl Douglas and Katherine Douglas operated Little Angel’s Child Care and Preschool in the former Washington School building at 1400 N. Eighth. Schnack said after the July 22 hearing that the daycare was open and was expected to remain open. However, Little Angels sent a notice to parents last week announcing that it was closing on Aug. 23. No date for reopening was mentioned.

According to the business website, the Douglases started the daycare in October 2016 in Mason City, Iowa. They bought the building on Eighth from the Quincy School Board and started the daycare in Quincy during the summer of 2019. ChildcareCenter.us says the daycare is licensed to have a capacity of 119 children from age 6 weeks to 12 years.

The daycare is under the ownership of Little Angel’s Child Care and Preschool LLC. Carl Douglas is listed as the entity agent. The Douglases also own daycares in Mason City, Iowa, and Forest City, Iowa.