A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for killing her boyfriend, who was a father and a U.S. Navy member, when she “gunned” her car and ran him over in Winthrop Harbor.
Candace M. Wrobel, 38, of Winthrop Harbor, was initially charged in March 2023 with one count of reckless homicide by motor vehicle, a Class 3 felony.
A Lake County grand jury later returned a three-count indictment charging Wrobel with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing a crash involving death and one count of reckless homicide, court records show.
The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred around noon on March 19, 2023, in the 1300 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor.
The Winthrop Harbor Police Department and Winthrop Harbor Fire Department were called to the residence for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said at the time that a 911 caller reported that his father, the victim, and Wrobel were fighting.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the man involved as Cody Humphrey, 40, of Winthrop Harbor.
The victim’s child later reported that Wrobel was trying to hit his father with the car and there was mention of blood in the home, Smoler said.
Officers arrived and found Humphrey under a tan Buick LeSabre parked in the driveway.
Humphrey was trapped underneath the car and the fire department arrived to extricate him, police said.
Humphrey, who was unconscious and not breathing, was extricated from under the car after firefighters used jacks and cribbing to remove him.
A medical helicopter was requested to land nearby but was later canceled.
Humphrey was transported by ambulance to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Wrobel was arrested and transported to the police department where she initially told investigators that Humphrey got onto the hood of her car when she wanted to leave, Smoler said.
Wrobel later told investigators that she and Humphrey got into a domestic the prior evening and Humphrey kicked her out of the house.
Smoler said that Wrobel came back to the house on March 19, 2023, before noon and banged on the door before entering the home through a doggy door.
Humphrey reportedly told Wrobel to leave. The woman got into her car while Humphrey was standing in the driveway.
Wrobel said she began to slowly move the car forward when Humphrey “somehow” ended up under the wheels of her car, Smoler said.
Wrobel later said that Humphrey was standing off to the side when she “gunned” the car and Humphrey jumped onto the hood, Smoler said.
Smoler said Wrobel continued driving up the driveway hill at approximately 20-30 mph when Humphrey fell off the car and was run over.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team was called to the scene to assist in the investigation. An autopsy confirmed Humphrey died as a result of blunt force injuries, Banek said.
The victim’s brother, Dusty Humphrey, said his brother was “senselessly taken” and left behind two sons, a 13-year-old and a 19-year-old.
“Cody was the best person I have ever known. He has helped countless amount of people achieve numerous goals during his lifetime. He was a devoted father, son, brother, and friend,” Dusty Humphrey said at the time of the incident.
“He served his country in the US Navy for the last 20 years, to eventually become a Senior Chief Petty Officer. If you had the privilege to know him, you would know that he made the world a better place. Everyone who knew Cody, loved him,” he added.
Wrobel, who has remained held in the Lake County Jail since her arrest, entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
She pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for a seven-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.