A Geneva man has been charged with murdering his wife and then placing her body on railroad tracks near their east-side home.

Shadwick R. King, 47, of the 800 block of Oak Street, Geneva, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, 32-year-old Kathleen King of Geneva.

Geneva police and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office allege that sometime after 5 a.m. July 6, 2014, Shadwick King asphyxiated Kathleen King, at their home, killing her.

Sometime after 6:50 a.m., a Metra Rail conductor reported seeing a female body lying alongside the Union Pacific Railway tracks in the vicinity of the 200 block of Briar Lane and Esping Park. Geneva police responded to the scene at about 6:50 p.m. and determined that the woman was dead.

Shadwick King appeared this morning in Kane County bond court in front of Associate Judge Clint Hull. Bail was set at $1.5 million with 10 percent ($150,000) to apply for bond. King’s next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. July 23, 2014, in Courtroom 313 at the Kane County Judicial Center in front of Circuit Judge James C. Hallock.

If convicted, King would be sentenced to between 20 and 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Geneva Police Chief Steve Mexin said:

“The thoughts of the entire Geneva Police Department are with Kathleen King’s family. We will continue to work with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office to ensure she receives justice.

“I wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who pitched in with invaluable resources – the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Union Pacific Police and Metra Police.”

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said:

“Thanks to Geneva Police Chief Steve Mexin and the Geneva Police Department, as well as the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force for the hard work, thoroughness and leadership they have shown over the last five days in investigating this case. I also want to thank the many agencies who played a role in this investigation. We are grateful that we have so many resources to partner with to solve crimes and keep the community safe.

“I would like to express my condolences to Kathleen’s family and friends. Our work is just beginning, and we will vigorously pursue justice for Kathleen, her family and the Geneva community.”

The charges against King are not proof of guilt. King is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office

Read More

• Kane County Chronicle: Woman’s death considered ‘suspicious,’ while husband is held in county jail
• Geneva Patch: Geneva Police Continue to Investigate Death of Woman Found on Metra Tracks