Trial Date Set for Simonoski

A trial has been tentatively set for Dec. 12 for Aco Simonoski, the Strongsville man charged with attempted murder for allegedly at their Hollo Oval home Aug. 21.

Simonoski, 51, is in jail on $500,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty.

Another pretrial has been set for Nov. 15, with the tentative trial date Dec. 12, according to Maria Russo, spokeswoman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason.

His ex-wife, Milka, remains in a local nursing home. Friends of the family say she is alert and in physical therapy.

On Aug. 21, police and prosecutors say Aco and Milka, 51, who were divorced but had tried to reconcile, got into an argument about whether Aco should continue to live in the home.

He left the residence. Milka and her daughter, Bilyana, 22, went to services at Grace Church and then to dinner at 

When they returned home about 8:30 p.m., Aco, who goes by "Alex," was there. They got into a heated argument and Aco, who appeared to be intoxicated, went to the garage, got an ax and started swinging it at his wife.

Bilyana tried to intervene and was struck in the arm with the ax. 

Aco then went after his wife again, hitting her in the head.

As he continued to swing it at Bilyana, the fight spilled into the garage, where neighbor Tom Drost, who was walking his dog, heard her screaming "You killed my mother" and ran over, calling 911 on the way.

A police report said officers found Milka in the house, lying face down on the floor with a "large amount of blood" around her and an ax nearby. 

A neighbor put pressure on her wounds until paramedics arrived. 

underwent surgery for the gash on her wrist and is in physical therapy, hoping to regain full use of her hand.

She and her younger brother, Alex, have moved to an apartment in a nearby community. Another sister, Vesna, has been living with friends.