The entire Chain O’ Lakes and Fox River reopened to boating Friday as flood waters continued to recede throughout Lake and McHenry counties.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake announced collectively that water levels from the Wisconsin border through the Algonquin Dam have dropped enough to reopen the lakes and river to all boating on Friday.

Officials initially said the lower river between the McHenry and Algonquin dams would remain no wake between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday.

However, a review of the Fox Waterway Agency website on Friday showed the lower river had been opened at about 1:30 p.m.

According to a news release issued by the IDNR, the state agency has the authorization to designate restricted boating areas when navigation is significantly dangerous.

The agency has the authority to rescind such closures when it is safe to do so.

The latest announcement comes after heavy rains in northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin caused flooding throughout Lake and McHenry counties, specifically along the Fox River and Chain O’ Lakes.

The high water resulted in numerous roads and bridges being shut down throughout the area.

Among the roadway closures were River Road near Moraine Hills State Park and Rawson Bridge Road in Port Barrington.

The IDNR officially opened the waterway to no-wake status from the McHenry Dam north through the Chain O’ Lakes on Tuesday.

No wake status means boats are allowed to drive through the waterway at speeds low enough as to not create a wake behind their watercraft.

The Chain and Fox River opened to full boating on Wednesday, officials said.

Gurnee Police are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and implementing enhanced security measures at Six Flags Great America this weekend as plans for a “teen takeover” circulate on social media.

The takeover is purportedly planned for Saturday at an unknown time.

A flyer, which appears to be AI-generated, began circulating on multiple social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram since late April.

The flyer states “TEEN TAKE OVER SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA” at the top, with “IF YOU SCARED STAY HOME [flying saucer emoji]” below it, with May 9 as the day.

“BRING THE VIOLENCE,” the flyer states.

The bottom of the flyer says “tickets” are available at “www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/teentakeover,” a website page that does not exist.

It also states that the park hours on Saturday are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., which is not correct.

It’s unclear who made the flyer or who is behind it.

“Teen takeovers” are a nationwide trend where young people organize in large numbers and suddenly gather in public areas, oftentimes leading to property damage and mob action.

The trend primarily occurs in the summer months, when teenagers are on school break.

The Gurnee Police Department told Lake & McHenry County Scanner that they are aware of the possible “teen takeover.”

“At this time, the credibility and source of the information remain under investigation,” Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.

“As a precautionary measure, the Gurnee Police Department is coordinating with Six Flags Great America and regional law enforcement partners to ensure appropriate safety measures and staffing are in place throughout the weekend,” Gaylor said.

Gaylor declined to comment further on the specific measures for the weekend.

It’s unknown how many or which police agencies are coordinating with Gurnee Police.

In late April, the park quietly implemented a new chaperone policy that requires all guests 15 years old or younger to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone who is age 21 or older for the entire visit.

The policy applies to both Great America and Hurricane Harbor. A valid government-issued photo ID with date of birth is required for all chaperones at the time of entry.

“Any guest 15 years old or younger found inside the park without a qualifying chaperone when the policy is active will be immediately subject to removal from the park,” the policy says. “This requirement applies to all guests, including ticket holders and all Season Pass and Membership holders.”

The policy also says that one chaperone can accompany no more than 10 guests who are 15 or younger.

The new policy is much stricter than their previous rule, where those aged 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult after 5 p.m.

“Guests should familiarize themselves with the park’s rules and expectations before arriving,” Gaylor said.

“Parents are encouraged to remain aware of their children’s activities and social media usage, and we ask all visitors to behave responsibly and follow park rules and local laws,” Gaylor added.

“Our department remains committed to maintaining a safe environment for residents, visitors, employees, and guests visiting our community.”

Six Flags officials did not respond Thursday or Friday to repeated requests for comment from the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

A Schaumburg woman, who worked at a popular Algonquin spa before being strangled to death earlier this week, was tortured for more than 7 hours before being killed by her attacker, authorities said.

Katherine Torbick, 43, was also tortured by Kevin D. Motykie, 56, in a similar attack nearly one month earlier, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued for the Schaumburg man, authorities said.

He was never taken into custody.

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office officials filed additional charges of criminal sexual assault against Motykie, who already had 1st degree murder charges filed against him for the murder of Torbick on Tuesday, authorities said.

Motykie was ordered detained until trial following a detention hearing in Cook County Court on Friday, officials from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Communication Department said in an email.

The Schaumburg Police Department responded around 9:20 p.m. Thursday, April 30, to the 1700 block of West Weathersfield Way in Schaumburg for a 911 call for a well-being check request.

Officers arrived to find Torbick dead at the scene after forcing entry into the home, police officials said.

The medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy on the victim and ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.

Police officers arrested Motykie in the garage at the residence, authorities said.

There was also a pending arrest warrant against Motykie for aggravated domestic battery due to recent domestic violence incidents at the same address.

During the investigation following her death Tuesday, detectives determined the victim and suspect were both residing at the home and were in a previous 10-year dating relationship.

Police said, after her death, there were multiple signs of trauma located throughout her body.

Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

In the report released by the state’s attorney’s office Friday, Motykie and Torbick were in a 10-year dating relationship, but said Torbick began dating another person in April.

It’s unknown if Torbick and Motykie had broken up before she started dating the new person.

Prosecutors also said Torbick had a 12-year-old son living in the Schaumburg home with Motykie and Torbick.

On April 30, a witness could not reach the victim and requested police head over to the home where she lived for a well-being check.

Police entered the home, found Torbick dead and Motykie in the garage, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that Motykie had a recording device in his possession when he was taken into custody by police.

A search warrant was obtained for the device and it was discovered Motykie had recorded the entire attack against Torbick.

In the 7+ hour recording, the victim was handcuffed and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Motykie, prosecutors said.

Torbick was also repeatedly beaten, bound, and strangled throughout the incident.

At different times, Torbick begged for her life on the recording while Motykie accused the victim of cheating on him.

Motykie also recorded the final four minutes of the incident, capturing the audio of her being strangled to death.

This wasn’t the first time Tobrick was attacked by Motykie, prosecutors said.

They said Torbick was beaten, strangled, and attacked in a previous case that took place on March 16.

During that incident, Torbick was beaten repeatedly and threatened with a knife before being forced to write a suicide note to her son.

Torbick managed to escape the attack and run to a neighbor’s house, where police were called, prosecutors said.

An arrest warrant was issued on March 22 for Motykie for the attack, but he was never taken into custody.

Authorities said the two still lived together at the time she was killed on April 30.

Torbick was employed at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin, and the business said they were heartbroken by the loss of their teammate and friend.

The business said Torbick was only with them for a short time but she became a part of their sisterhood. “She brought warmth, energy, and genuine care to our workplace. She loved being part of this team, and we loved having her here.”

“She made an impact that will not be forgotten – with both clients and teammates. Our hearts are with her family, especially her son, during this unimaginable time. We are holding them in our thoughts and sending all the strength and support we can,” Fox River MedSpa said.

“This loss is deeply felt across our entire team. We are taking time to grieve together, support one another, and honor her memory. Right now, our focus is on caring for our team and remembering the person we were so lucky to know. She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story,” they added.

Fox River MedSpa will be hosting a donation-based domestic violence class in Torbick’s name. All donated proceeds will be given to Refuge For Women.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing harm or feels unsafe, please reach out. Support is available, and you are not alone,” the business said.

In January, the Illinois First District Appellate Court ruled on a civil case involving Motykie and his brother, Gary Motykie.

Gary Motykie is a plastic surgeon who lives in southern California but has family and business ties in the Chicago area.

Gary Motykie hired Kevin Motykie in 2017 to manage one of Gary’s businesses, Motykie Med Spa in Barrington, court documents show.

The man later accused Kevin Motykie of stealing funds from the business and the feud between the brothers entered the court system in December 2021 when Gary sought a court order seeking possession of multiple cars in Kevin’s possession that Gary had purchased.

During the court proceedings in the civil case, Torbick testified and said she was Kevin Motykie’s girlfriend.

A baby has died after being flown to the hospital after he was found unresponsive and not breathing at a daycare center in Woodstock Tuesday morning, officials said.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday to the House of Children, 2521 Harding Lane in Woodstock, for a medical call.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that a 911 caller reported an infant was suffering a medical emergency.

Emergency radio traffic indicated the child, a 4-month-old, was unconscious and not breathing.

Vucha said staff at the business had already begun providing care prior to the arrival of the fire department.

Emergency personnel arrived within three minutes of the dispatch being received.

Emergency crews worked alongside paramedics and were able to stabilize the patient prior to transport, Vucha said.

The infant was initially transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The child was later transferred by medical helicopter to a children’s hospital for advanced medical treatment, Vucha said.

“This incident highlights the coordinated efforts between on scene personnel, emergency medical crews, and receiving hospital staff to provide a seamless transition of care,” he said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the young boy died in the hospital on Thursday evening. His identity has not been released.

The fire district did not provide further details on what may have led to the incident. The medical examiner’s office has not ruled a cause or manner of death.

The House of Children is a state-licensed facility that offers childcare, preschool, kindergarten and summer camp programs for children from six weeks to 12 years old, according to the company’s website.

“Our professional and nurturing team offer a secure, comfortable and welcoming environment for your child to learn much of what they need to know as they grow!” the website says.

A Fox Lake man arrested by a SWAT team Tuesday had more than 200 grams of cannabis and a defaced gun that had been reported stolen out of Joliet, authorities said.

Hector Ramos, 41, was ordered detained until trial by Lake County Judge Ari Fisz following a detention hearing on Thursday.

Ramos has formally been charged by prosecutors from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office with a Class 2 felony possession of a weapon, a Class 3 felony charge of manufacturing drugs, and multiple Class 4 felony counts of possession of drugs.

The incident started on Tuesday when a SWAT team and officers from the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LCMEG) conducted a search warrant at a residence on the 100 block of Cypress Avenue in Fox Lake.

Prosecutors said in court that officers saw Ramos exiting his basement through a window after police knocked on the door.

Ramos fled from police on foot, breaking through a fence before being caught, prosecutors said.

Ramos struggled against police, resulting in a charge of resisting arrest, prosecutors said.

A 9mm pistol with a defaced serial number that was stolen out of Joliet was located in the nightstand of Ramos’s bedroom, prosecutors said.

A magazine was inserted into the gun, authorities said, but no ammunition was inside it, and no round was in the chamber.

Less than a gram of cocaine was found in a small cross bag hanging on a bedroom door, authorities said, and a hydrocodone pill was found in the bedroom.

Authorities also said a heat-sealed bag containing 252 grams of cannabis was found in the bedroom dresser, while just over $1,000 in cash in a variety of denominations was found in the pocket of a pair of shorts.

Prosecutors added that Ramos did not have a FOID card and was previously arrested and convicted on a gun charge in 2013.

In addition, court records show Ramos has been arrested and convicted multiple times in Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

Ramos is due back in court on May 27.

A former Barrington man who moved out of state during an investigation into his possible possession of child sex abuse material has been arrested and indicted by a Lake County Grand Jury, authorities said.

Barrington Police Chief David Daigle said detectives with the Barrington Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Jan. 1, 2024, that a person in Barrington had downloaded images of suspected child pornography.

An investigation was launched, Daigle said, which resulted in officers executing a residential search warrant in the 1400 block of South Shore Court in April of 2024.

Multiple electronic devices and computer files were seized during the search warrant, Daigle said.

Those items were turned over to the Lake County Cyber Crime Lab for forensic analysis, which revealed multiple images of child pornography on the confiscated electronic devices.

On May 20, 2025, an arrest warrant was obtained for Jacob Cyhaniuk, 19, Daigle said.

However, investigators learned Cyhaniuk had moved to Florida with the rest of his family in June of 2025, Daigle said.

Cyhaniuk was arrested in Alabama in April of 2026 and transported back to Illinois to answer to the charges, Daigle said.

Daigle said Cyhaniuk was indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury on six Class 2 felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material on May 6.

He remains free from Lake County jail, court records show.

Cyhaniuk’s next court date is May 12, 2026, in Waukegan.

A Crystal Lake man has been arrested and charged after exposing himself to elementary children on recess at Canterbury Elementary School, officials said.

Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said officers responded to the area of Canterbury Elementary School at 875 Canterbury Drive for a report of a subject who exposed himself to children and an adult who was outside for recess at 12:58 p.m. on Thursday.

Neumann said the subject fled the scene before police arrived.

Patrol units quickly located a vehicle matching a description provided by a witness.

The investigation resulted in Jack Glauner, 69, of the 200 block of Lincolnshire Drive, being taken into custody and charged for the incident, Neumann said.

Glauner was charged by the McHenry County States Attorney’s Office with a Class 4 felony count of Public Indecency with Lewd Exposure Near School Grounds and one misdemeanor count of Disorderly Conduct.

Glauner was taken into custody without incident and transported to the McHenry County jail, authorities said.

He is due to appear in court on Friday afternoon, court records show.

The Crystal Lake Police Department is actively continuing to investigate this incident.

Police encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at (815) 356-3620.

In addition, anyone with a cell phone can send an anonymous tip to the Crystal Lake Police Department by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411 (tip411). Normal text messaging rates do apply.

An Elgin man was found guilty in McHenry County Court on Thursday of selling fentanyl-laced drugs to a Marengo man who wound up dead, authorities said.

Ladell D. Walker Sr., 47, of Elgin, was found guilty of a Class X felony drug-induced homicide charge at the conclusion of a four-day trial in McHenry County Court on Thursday, said McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese.

Freese said the evidence presented during the trial showed that on September 12, 2023, an employee at the Sunset Motel in Marengo entered a room to check on a resident who had been staying there.

When the motel manager entered the room, the victim was discovered deceased inside.

Court records show the victim was identified as Jacob Schramm of Woodstock.

Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and conducted an extensive investigation into the victim’s death, Freese said.

During the investigation, officers recovered evidence from the victim’s belongings, including narcotics-related items and electronic evidence.

A forensic examination of the victim’s cellular phone revealed communications and other digital evidence linking the victim to Walker, Freese said.

She said Walker supplied the deadly drugs to the victim shortly before the victim’s death.

Court records show that authorities determined Schramm went to Elgin to purchase the drugs from Walker, then ingested them later at the Marengo motel room where he was living.

Additional forensic testing confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system and further corroborated Walker’s role in delivering the fatal dose.

“This verdict reflects the tireless work of law enforcement and prosecutors committed to holding drug dealers accountable when their actions lead to death,” Freese said. “The distribution of deadly narcotics continues to devastate families and communities, and this office will continue to aggressively prosecute dealers who distribute deadly drugs to McHenry County residents, regardless of what county they may operate from. If you choose to profit from poison that takes a life in our community, we will pursue justice wherever the evidence leads.”

Walker is due to be sentenced on July 16.

State’s Attorney Freese extends her gratitude to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigative efforts to identify Walker.

She also thanked Detective Michael Maloney of the Crystal Lake Police Department for his critical assistance at trial.

An elderly woman misjudged the distance of an approaching semi-truck while making a turn and crashed into it, leaving her injured and shutting down part of Grand Avenue for over an hour in Gurnee Wednesday afternoon.

The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 2 p.m. Wednesday to Grand Avenue and Route 21 in Gurnee for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Police officers and firefighter/paramedics arrived and found a semi-truck and a Toyota Camry sedan involved in the crash.

Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said the semi-truck was traveling northbound on Route 21 approaching Grand Avenue.

The Toyota, driven by an 80-year-old Gurnee woman, was traveling southbound on Route 21 and attempted to make a left turn onto eastbound Grand Avenue.

“The driver of the Toyota misjudged the distance of the approaching semi-truck and collided with the truck within the intersection,” Gaylor said.

Video taken from a bystander showed multiple people coming to the woman’s aid before emergency crews arrived.

The Toyota’s airbags were deployed and the woman was still inside the car.

“You okay? Can you unlock it for me?” a Good Samaritan is heard asking the woman.

“It’s alright, if you can’t unlock it just stay right here and don’t move. I’m going to call 911, alright?” the Good Samaritan said.

The occupants of the semi-truck appeared to have been able to get out of the truck from the passenger side.

Paramedics transported the woman to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with non-life-threatening injuries.

Five other people refused to be transported to the hospital.

The crash left both vehicles with front-end damage and fluid leaking onto the roadway.

The westbound lanes of Grand Avenue were shut down just east of Route 21 while emergency and tow truck crews worked the scene.

A heavy wrecker was brought in to remove the semi-truck.

Both vehicles were eventually towed, and westbound Grand Avenue was reopened at around 3:20 p.m.

No one was injured after a sailboat capsized in Crystal Lake on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

Mark Menzel, Deputy Chief of Operations and EMS for the Crystal Lake Fire Department, said emergency personnel were dispatched Wednesday to Crystal Lake for a possible boating accident at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Fire personnel arrived on scene within six minutes, Menzel said, and reported two people in the water with the Lakewood Police Department near them.

Upon investigation, crews determined the incident was not a boating accident, but rather a sailboat that had capsized.

The occupants attempted to right the vessel but were unsuccessful, Menzel said.

Both individuals were wearing appropriate protective clothing and personal flotation devices, Menzel said, preventing the situation from becoming a more serious emergency.

An ambulance crew evaluated both occupants for exposure to the cold water temperatures.

Both refused transport at the scene, Menzel said.

As a reminder, Menzel said people are urged to consider the weather and environmental conditions when participating in outdoor activities.

He added that the two boaters took the appropriate precautions suitable for the conditions at the time, which can make the difference between a survivable situation and a tragic outcome.

Three people were hospitalized following a four-vehicle crash in Johnsburg on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Commander Robert Salazer of the Johnsburg Police Department said emergency personnel responded to a four-vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of Route 31 and Running Brook Farms Road at about 3:55 p.m. Tuesday.

As a result of the crash, three individuals were transported to a local hospital with injuries believed not to be life-threatening, Salazar said.

Officers were assisted on scene by area fire and EMS personnel, who provided medical care and ensured the safe removal of involved parties.

Route 31 was closed for approximately 40 minutes while emergency responders managed the scene and cleared the roadway.

The roadway has since been reopened, and normal traffic flow has resumed.

Salazar said one person was cited for a lane violation as a result of their role in the incident.

A Woodstock man was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison after hitting a woman in the head with a hatchet.

Steven Torres, 47, of the 300 block of Meadowsedge Drive in Woodstock, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single Class 2 felony count of domestic battery, court records show.

Court records filed in McHenry County Circuit Court show Torres was sentenced to three years and six months in the Illinois Department of Corrections as part of the approved plea deal.

In addition, Torres is required to spend four years on mandatory supervised release when he is released from prison.

He will receive 254 days of credit for time already served in the McHenry County jail, court records show.

This is the fourth time Torres has been convicted of similar domestic battery charges, court records show.

He was previously convicted in McHenry County of the same felony charges in 2018, 2020, and 2021, court records show.

He was also convicted of misdemeanor counts of domestic battery in Kane County in 20o3 and in McHenry County in 2018, court records show.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputies were called on August 24 by the victim, who claimed Torres struck her in the head with a hatchet, then told her to go to sleep.

The victim went to a neighbor’s house after Torres took away her cell phone, court records show.

Torres was ordered detained in county jail following his arrest, and was told not to have any contact with the victim.

However, Torres was charged with communicating with a witness in March after he sent four, multi-page letters to the victim between October and December, court records show.

Additional Class 2 felony charges of domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery were dropped in exchange for the plea deal, court records show.

No injuries were reported, but a home was deemed uninhabitable, following a basement fire in Huntley on Wednesday, authorities said.

Lt. Patrick Gordon of the Huntley Fire Protection District said crews were called to the 9700 block of Aberdeen Lane at 10:54 p.m. Wednesday for a reported structure fire in a two-story residential home.

He said initial reports indicated there was a fire in the basement of the home with visible smoke.

First-arriving units confirmed smoke conditions emanating from the basement of the residence, Gordon said.

Firefighters initiated a rapid interior attack, Gordon said, and successfully contained and extinguished the fire.

Following the initial knockdown, Gordon said, crews conducted extensive “overhaul” operations to check for fire extension and ensure no hidden hotspots remained within the structure.

No injuries were reported among residents or responding personnel, Gordon said.

Due to the smoke and fire damage sustained during the incident, the residence has been deemed uninhabitable.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Huntley Fire Protection District’s Prevention Bureau.

The Huntley Fire Protection District was supported on-scene by automatic aid from the Algonquin and Carpentersville fire departments.

Family and friends are mourning the death of a 38-year-old man, who was a “devoted” father of three young children and a U.S. Air Force veteran, following a motorcycle crash in Crystal Lake.

The Crystal Lake Police Department and Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 8:45 p.m. Saturday to the area of Route 14 and Dole Avenue in Crystal Lake for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Officers arrived and found the crash at Route 14, also known as Virginia Street, and Lakeshore Drive, according to Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann.

The crash involved a single vehicle — a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was only occupied by the operator.

Neumann said a preliminary investigation shows that the motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Route 14 near Lakeshore Drive.

The motorcycle left the roadway for unknown reasons and the driver was ejected in the crash.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein identified the driver as Andrew Anderson, 38, of Warrenville.

Anderson suffered life-threatening injuries, Neumann said.

A 911 caller reported Anderson was on the ground and not moving. A medical helicopter was placed on standby but canceled.

An ambulance transported Anderson to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry where he was pronounced dead.

A portion of Route 14 was shut down for approximately two and a half hours while a crash investigation was conducted, Neumann said.

Rein said an autopsy was performed on Anderson on Tuesday.

A witness told Lake and McHenry County Scanner he believed the crash was the result of operator error. “It was dark, street lights were on, not a whole lot of traffic, but he did appear to be speeding.”

“Looked like he tried to take a shortcut right turn through that corner lot and caught some debris which looked like the remains of an old base for a sign post, & it sent him sailing. The driver was motionless and from what I could see unresponsive. The motorcycle looked in worse shape,” the witness said.

Anderson leaves behind a wife and was a father of three young children. He was also a combat veteran of the United States Air Force and a firefighter.

Creech Air Force Base Fire & Emergency Services, based in Nevada, said it was “with a heavy heart” to share the news of Anderson’s death. They called him a devoted husband, proud combat veteran of the United States Air Force, dedicated firefighter and loving father “who was taken from us far too soon.”

“Andrew spent his life in service to others, first in the military and then as a firefighter protecting his community. He was known for his kindness, strong work ethic, and the deep love he had for his wife Stephanie and their three young children,” the fire department said.

“Stephanie now faces not only devastating grief but also the sudden financial burden of raising their children alone. Funds are needed for funeral costs, daily living expenses, and ongoing care for the kids,” the fire department said.

A GoFundMe account was established and has raised over $64,000 as of Wednesday.

Anthony Miceli, who established the fundraiser, said Anderson spent his life serving and protecting others.

“His absence leaves an unimaginable void in their lives,” Miceli said, adding that Anderson was the sole provider for his family.

Meghann Trapp said in a social media post that she was “in shock” to find out that Anderson died. The two served together in Aviano, Italy, she said.

“I am in shock right now but I cannot imagine the heartache his wife and sweet babies are feeling. Please pray for his family and friends. RIP Andy,” Trapp said.

Funeral services have not been announced yet.

Neumann said the crash remains under active investigation by the Crystal Lake Police Department.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620.

Anonymous tips can also be sent to the Crystal Lake Police Department by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411.

Police are investigating how a man drove off the roadway and crashed into a home, causing him to become trapped and injured in Antioch Tuesday morning.

The Antioch Police Department and Antioch Fire Department responded around 9:10 a.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of North Avenue in Antioch for a report of a vehicle crash.

Emergency responders arrived and found an Audi A4 sedan that had crashed into the side of a home, Antioch Assistant Village Administrator Jim Moran said.

The driver and sole occupant of the Audi, a 29-year-old man, was trapped in the car due to how it ended up against the house.

An additional ambulance was called to the scene to help assist the first fire engine and ambulance crews with extrication operations.

Firefighters spent about 15 minutes removing the front passenger side door to free him, Antioch Battalion Fire Chief Tim Taylor said.

Moran said the man became combative with police after being extricated.

Firefighter/medics transported him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with minor and non-life-threatening injuries.

No one else was injured.

Police determined the Audi was traveling westbound on North Avenue when it left the roadway and crashed into the house.

It’s unknown how or why the Audi left the roadway.

The Antioch Building Department responded to the scene to check the structural integrity of the home.

The house remained habitable and was structurally sound.

Field employees with Nicor Gas were called to the scene to check for hazards because the Audi hit an A/C unit and possibly damaged a gas line, Taylor said.

Police conducted traffic control on North Avenue at Anita Avenue while crews were tending to the crash.

Tow truck crews with Antioch Automotive & Towing responded to remove the Audi and clean up the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Antioch Police Department, and charges are possible.

First-degree murder charges have been filed against the partner of a woman, who worked at an Algonquin business, after she was found strangled to death at a home in Schaumburg.

The Schaumburg Police Department responded around 9:20 p.m. Thursday to the 1700 block of West Weathersfield Way in Schaumburg for a 911 call for a well-being check request.

Officers arrived and entered the home where they found a woman dead at the scene, police officials said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Katherine Torbick, 43, of Schaumburg.

The medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy on her and ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.

Police officers arrested a man, later identified in court records as Kevin D. Motykie, 56, of Schaumburg, inside the residence.

Police said he was known to Torbick and public documents show the two were in a relationship. Their exact relationship status was not known.

Police said they do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public.

Torbick was employed at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin and the business said they were heartbroken by the loss of their teammate and friend.

The business said Torbick was only with them for a short time but she became a part of their sisterhood. “She brought warmth, energy, and genuine care to our workplace. She loved being part of this team, and we loved having her here.”

“She made an impact that will not be forgotten – with both clients and teammates. Our hearts are with her family, especially her son, during this unimaginable time. We are holding them in our thoughts and sending all the strength and support we can,” Fox River MedSpa said.

“This loss is deeply felt across our entire team. We are taking time to grieve together, support one another, and honor her memory. Right now, our focus is on caring for our team and remembering the person we were so lucky to know. She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story,” they added.

Fox River MedSpa will be hosting a donation-based domestic violence class in Torbick’s name. All donated proceeds will be given to Refuge For Women.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing harm or feels unsafe, please reach out. Support is available, and you are not alone,” the business said.

Police said the suspect remained in custody receiving treatment at a medical facility and they were working with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on obtaining charges upon his medical clearance.

Court records show Motykie was charged on Tuesday with first-degree murder, a Class M felony, and an arrest warrant was issued.

Police have not announced yet when he will be transported to court or provided further details surrounding the incident.

In January, the Illinois First District Appellate Court ruled on a civil case involving Motykie and his brother, Gary Motykie.

Gary Motykie is a plastic surgeon who lives in southern California but has family and business ties in the Chicago area.

Gary Motykie hired Kevin Motykie in 2017 to manage one of Gary’s businesses, Motkykie Med Spa in Barrington, court documents show.

The man later accused Kevin Motykie of stealing funds from the business and the feud between the brothers entered the court system in December 2021 when Gary sought a court order seeking possession of multiple cars in Kevin’s possession that Gary had purchased.

During the court proceedings in the civil case, Katherine Torbick testified and said she was Kevin Motykie’s girlfriend.

A SWAT team and a law enforcement task force conducted a search warrant at a residence in Fox Lake on Tuesday and arrested a suspect found with a stolen gun and drugs.

The Illinois State Police SWAT Team and Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LCMEG) carried out a court-authorized search of a residence in the 100 block of Cypress Avenue in Fox Lake on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said a 41-year-old man lives in the basement of the home.

Agents located a 9mm pistol in the nightstand of his bedroom.

The gun had been confirmed to be stolen out of Joliet, prosecutors said. The serial number on the gun had been defaced.

A magazine was inserted into the gun but no ammunition was inside it and no round was in the chamber.

Less than a gram of cocaine was found in a small cross bag hanging on a bedroom door. A hydrocodone pill was also found.

A heat-sealed bag containing 252 grams of cannabis was found in the bedroom dresser, prosecutors said.

Just over $1,000 in cash, in a variety of denominations, was found in the pocket of a pair of shorts.

Two citations previously issued to the resident by the Fox Lake Police Department were found in the basement.

Felony charges are pending against the man, who was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail.

A woman was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries after a minivan pulled out in front of her motorcycle, resulting in a crash on Route 14 in Barrington Tuesday evening.

The Barrington Fire Department and Barrington Police Department responded around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Route 14 and East Main Street for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.

Barrington Chief of Police David Daigle said officers and paramedics arrived and found a two-vehicle crash south of the intersection near Starbucks.

They began rendering aid to the drivers of a motorcycle and a Honda minivan.

A witness told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the motorcyclist was down on the ground, not moving.

A preliminary investigation shows that a blue 2021 Honda Odyssey, driven by a 45-year-old Palatine woman, was attempting to exit a parking lot at 120 South Northwest Highway.

The Honda began exiting the private drive and turning left onto northbound Route 14, also known as Northwest Highway, Daigle said.

A black 2020 Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by a 40-year-old Barrington woman, was traveling southbound on Northwest Highway at the same time.

The Kawasaki struck the driver’s side of the Honda in the southbound lanes, Daigle said.

The motorcycle operator suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Daigle said he did not know the condition of the victim but it was serious enough that they had to transport her to a Level 1 trauma center.

The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was activated to conduct a full investigation into the crash.

Eastbound Route 14 was shut down for several hours from Main Street during the investigation. It was reopened to traffic around 9 p.m., Daigle said.

No charges or citations have been announced yet against either driver.

The Barrington Police Department said they remind all motorists that May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. “Drivers are urged to remain vigilant and ‘Start Seeing Motorcycles,'” the department said.

Six students at Round Lake Middle School in Round Lake Heights were transported by ambulances to the hospital after they took THC gummies and fell sick Wednesday morning.

The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 8:50 a.m. to the Round Lake Middle School, 2000 North Lotus Drive in Round Lake Heights, for a report of an overdose.

Two ambulances from the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District took two students to area hospitals.

A third ambulance from the Fox Lake Fire Protection District was later requested at the school by the school resource police officer at around 10 a.m., according to fire radio traffic.

That ambulance took another student to the hospital.

Two more ambulances were requested to the school again at around 11:10 a.m. by the police.

An ambulance from the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District took two more students to the hospital, and an ambulance from the Fox Lake Fire Protection District took one student.

In total, six students were transported to area hospitals throughout Wednesday morning.

Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Charley Mitchell said the students were feeling ill and were transported to area hospitals as a precaution.

All the students’ injuries are non-life-threatening, Mitchell said.

“We are aware of a situation at Round Lake Middle School where students appear to have ingested THC gummies,” Round Lake Area Schools District #116 officials said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“Six students required medical intervention and were taken to the hospital in stable condition,” the school added.

School officials and emergency responders were seen coordinating with the parents and guardians of the students.

School operations did not appear to be disrupted throughout the morning.

School officials are continuing to work with the Round Lake Heights Police Department to investigate the incident.

Round Lake Heights Police Chief Eric Schmidtke said Wednesday afternoon that no further information is available for release at this time, citing student privacy laws.

This is a developing story. Check back on our website later for updates.

Two juveniles suffered minor burns after they were off-roading in an SUV and caught the car and several acres of wildland on fire at the Ray Lake Forest Preserve near Mundelein Tuesday.

The Wauconda Fire District and Lake County Forest Preserves Ranger Police Department responded around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the area of North Gilmer Road and West Erhart Road in unincorporated Grayslake for a report of a grass fire.

Two juveniles were reportedly off-roading in an SUV when it got stuck and caught the SUV and the grass on fire in a field at the Ray Lake Forest Preserve.

Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Adam Schlick said that firefighters spent 15 to 20 minutes accessing the fire because it was about 1,000 feet from the road and 500 feet from a nearby driveway to a home in the 24000 block of West Erhart Road.

Firefighters stretched long hose lines from the nearby residential property and worked to stop the fire from spreading further.

Crews spent about an hour extinguishing the fire, Schlick said.

A water tender from the Wauconda Fire District, an extra ambulance from the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, a brush truck from the Countryside Fire Protection District and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with operations.

The two juveniles who were in the SUV approached firefighters with minor burn injuries.

Emergency crews were not able to get in contact with one of the juvenile’s parents or guardians, so they were taken to the hospital. The other juvenile was evaluated but not transported to the hospital.

The SUV was a total loss, and approximately three and a half acres of forest preserve property burned, Schlick added.

The fire was not near any structures.

Schlick said that enough of the grass was already wet, which helped prevent the fire from becoming out of control.

Lake & McHenry County Scanner has reached out to the Lake County Forest Preserves Ranger Police for more information on the incident.

Village officials announced that they are “excited to share” that Target will be coming to Johnsburg where the former JCPenney is located after its closure four years ago.

Johnsburg Village President Edwin Hettermann said he was “excited to share” that the Johnsburg Village Board unanimously approved an economic incentive agreement on Tuesday evening.

The agreement is with TEI Johnsburg, LLC, and will bring a new 130,000-square-foot Target store to The Shops at Fox River off of Route 31 near Running Brook Farm Boulevard.

The Target store is expected to open in November 2027 where the former JCPenney is located, Hettermann said.

Hettermann said the project has been a priority for the village since the JCPenney closed in 2022.

Dick Spinell of Mid-America Asset Management and the shopping center owners worked with Village Administrator Claudett Sofiakis and Hettermann to evaluate several paths for the site.

One of those paths involved subdividing the space for smaller retailers and creating outlots.

It was ultimately determined that a Target store would offer the greatest benefit to residents and the long-term health of the shopping center.

Spinell told the Johnsburg Village Board that a dentist’s office next to the former JCPenney will be relocated.

Target will be tearing down the dentist’s office to expand the former JCPenney building for its new store.

Spinell said the new store will bring a “bunch of jobs” while saying that Target is the most sought-after tenant in the marketplace.

“In an era where many brick-and-mortar retailers are retracting, we are fortunate to be able to attract a national leader like Target,” Hettermann said.

“This store will not only provide a premier shopping experience, but will also drive traffic to our existing businesses along the Route 31 corridor,” he said.

Hettermann thanked Sofiakis and Spinell, along with his team, who worked “tirelessly to make this long-awaited project a reality.”

“I remain committed to bringing new housing, shopping, and employment opportunities to ensure a resilient future for Johnsburg,” Hettermann said.

Renderings of the new Target store have not been released yet.

A judge has sentenced a Round Lake Beach man to 16 years in prison, 5 years less than his original sentence, for murdering a teen in his stolen car in Volo after his conviction was reversed due to the jury using the prosecution’s notes to help reach their verdict.

Lynell P. Glover, 40, of Round Lake Beach, was convicted in late March 2022 of second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.

The man’s attorneys had filed a motion for mistrial while the jury was deliberating due to a note the jury sent to the judge.

The note stated that the jury had a copy of the prosecution’s PowerPoint, which had been played during closing arguments, and a deputy removed the disc, saying the jury was not supposed to have it.

The PowerPoint had personal notes from the prosecution that were not admitted as evidence.

The jury said in their note that “many people” formed thoughts after viewing it during their deliberations.

“Why were we given evidence or information that we should not have seen or used? This is a problem for some of us. We used the PowerPoint extensively,” the note to the judge said.

Lake County Judge Mark Levitt responded to the jury by saying that he reviewed the presentation and the personal notes included on it were argued during closing arguments.

“I remind you that closing arguments are not evidence and anything that attorneys say to you should be based on the evidence and reasonable inference to be drawn from the evidence. Any argument not based on the evidence should be disregarded. Please continue to deliberate,” Levitt said in his note back to the jury.

Levitt denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial and the matter was later appealed.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Scheller said during a January 2021 bond hearing that Glover’s vehicle was reported stolen on December 30, 2020, from his Round Lake Beach residence.

Glover found out his vehicle was near the Speedway gas station at Route 12 and Route 120 in Volo around 2:40 a.m. on January 3, 2021.

He followed the vehicle southbound on Route 12 when the stolen vehicle, which was occupied by two 17-year-old boys from Carol Stream, ran out of gas, police said.

The stolen car pulled into a parking lot near the Platinum Autobody, 31223 North Route 12, and an altercation ensued, Scheller said.

Glover called 911 and dispatchers could hear him yelling in the background, “Get on the f—ing ground or I’ll shoot you.”

Scheller said that Glover chased the two teens and shot them as they were running.

Officers arrived and found both of the teens with gunshot wounds. One of them, identified as Anthony Awad, sustained three gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other teen sustained one gunshot wound to his leg and was transported to an area hospital.

Police recovered a Ruger 9mm pistol in a sewer grate. The gun belonged to Glover’s girlfriend, prosecutors said.

Police also recovered shell casings in the middle of the Route 12 median between the southbound and northbound lanes.

Glover sustained minor non-gunshot injuries from the incident and did not need medical treatment, police said.

Glover’s attorneys said during closing arguments at trial that one of the teens had the gun when Glover confronted them and that Glover acted in self-defense when he shot them.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the verdict that Glover “started the fight, shot the boys after the altercation, and then hid the gun afterwards.”

“The jury correctly saw that Mr. Glover was wrong to take the law into his own hands,” Rinehart said.

Glover was sentenced to 21 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in May 2022.

Glover appealed his case to the Illinois Second District Appellate Court after the trial court judge denied the post-trial motion to reconsider his sentence.

The appeals court issued a ruling in mid-2023, siding with Glover that the trial court judge should have granted the motion for a mistrial due to the jury having the prosecution’s PowerPoint when deliberating.

“As such, we cannot agree that the error and resulting prejudice from the improper inclusion of the State’s PowerPoint presentation was ‘harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.’ The jury’s verdict cannot stand because it is far from obvious that no prejudice accrued,” the appeals court said in the ruling.

The court reversed Glover’s conviction and remanded it back to Lake County Circuit Court for further proceedings.

Glover entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for a 16-year sentence in the IDOC, which was approved by a judge.

Glover also received credit for 1,949 days held in custody so far during his case proceedings. His other charges have been dismissed as part of the plea.

A baby was flown to a specialized children’s hospital after being found unresponsive and not breathing at a daycare center in Woodstock Tuesday morning.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday to the House of Children, 2521 Harding Lane in Woodstock, for a medical call.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that a 911 caller reported an infant was suffering a medical emergency.

Emergency radio traffic indicated the child, a 4-month-old, was unconscious and not breathing.

Vucha said staff at the business had already begun providing care prior to the arrival of the fire department.

Emergency personnel arrived within three minutes of the dispatch being received.

Emergency crews worked alongside paramedics and were able to stabilize the patient prior to transport, Vucha said.

The infant was initially transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The child was later transferred by medical helicopter to a children’s hospital for advanced medical treatment, Vucha said.

“This incident highlights the coordinated efforts between on scene personnel, emergency medical crews, and receiving hospital staff to provide a seamless transition of care,” he said.

The fire district did not provide further details on what may have led to the incident. The child’s current condition is unknown.

The House of Children is a state-licensed facility that offers childcare, preschool, kindergarten and summer camp programs for children from six weeks to 12 years old, according to the company’s website.

“Our professional and nurturing team offer a secure, comfortable and welcoming environment for your child to learn much of what they need to know as they grow!” the website says.

An intoxicated man, who had multiple warrants, allegedly tried to hug and kiss an employee before becoming aggressive and resisting police officers at a Gurnee family entertainment center Saturday evening.

Francisco R. Martinez-Perales, 30, of Waukegan, was charged with one count of resisting a peace officer and one count of obstructing a peace officer, both Class A misdemeanors.

Martinez-Perales also had active warrants for his arrest from six cases in Lake County, court records show.

The Gurnee Police Department responded around 10:20 p.m. Saturday to the Launch Family Entertainment Center, 880 Lakeside Drive in Gurnee, for a report of a patron harassing an employee.

Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said Martinez-Perales was allegedly intoxicated and reportedly made an employee feel uncomfortable by attempting to hug and kiss her.

Officers arrived and approached Martinez-Perales, who matched the description provided by the caller, as he was attempting to leave the business.

“During the encounter, he became aggressive toward officers and refused to comply with verbal commands,” Gaylor said. “Due to his behavior, officers detained him.”

While detained, police learned of Martinez-Perales’ warrants from multiple active criminal and traffic cases in Lake County.

In one of his cases, he was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated DUI while license was suspended or revoked and driving while license was suspended or revoked in Park City in April 2025, court records show.

In that case, Martinez-Perales was allegedly driving recklessly in his Jeep and almost hit a child on a sidewalk, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said during a detention hearing Monday afternoon.

When Park City police officers attempted to pull Martinez-Perales over, he allegedly crashed into multiple squad cars in an attempt to evade them, but was stopped, McConnell said.

Martinez-Perales was believed to be drunk and had a revoked license at the time, McConnell added.

Martinez-Perales and a police officer were hospitalized as a result of the incident.

A warrant was issued for his arrest in the case in October 2025, court records show.

Martinez-Perales also failed to appear in court for his pre-trial conferences in June 2025 for several of his other cases filed in the past three years, including two where he was charged with obstructing a peace officer in Waukegan in November 2024 and in Park City in May 2023.

Prosecutors filed a petition to keep Martinez-Perales detained pending trial, arguing that he is a “real and present threat” to the community and citing his past failures to appear in court and repeated driving violations as a flight risk.

Lake County Assistant Public Defender Gregg Wolpoff, who was representing Martinez-Perales at the detention hearing, argued that Martinez-Perales kept in touch with police about whether a warrant was issued, but eventually gave up.

Martinez-Perales was still recovering at the time and did not know he had a court date, Wolpoff added.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted prosecutors’ petition to deny Martinez-Perales’s pre-trial release.

Martinez-Perales remains held in the Lake County Jail. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on May 26.

Detectives are conducting an investigation after a 15-year-old boy from Buffalo Grove was found dead inside a residence in Chicago Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department responded around 1:27 p.m. Saturday to the 2000 block of West Adams Street in Chicago for a report of an unresponsive person call.

Police officials said a 16-year-old boy was discovered unresponsive at the residence.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and Area Three Detectives were called to conduct a death investigation.

Police officials said further information was not available as the investigation is pending autopsy results.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Antonio Crawford, 15, of Buffalo Grove. Police initially said he was 16.

A 911 caller, who was Crawford’s sister, reported finding the boy not breathing in an apartment, according to police radio traffic. He was cold to the touch and blue.

The medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy on the boy but the results have not been released.

Police officials did not say whether they believe foul play was suspected in the case.

The cause and manner of death remain pending as of Tuesday.