A Lindenhurst woman has been sentenced to four years in prison but has been released after less than a day in prison for accidentally shooting and killing her husband at their home on Thanksgiving Day in 2022.
Kellee Holmes, 44, of Lindenhurst, was initially charged in November 2022 with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony.
She was later additionally charged with involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony.
The charges were in connection with the death of her husband, Charles Holmes, 44, of Lindenhurst, who died as a result of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lindenhurst Police Department and Lake Villa Fire Protection District responded around 2:10 p.m. on November 24, 2022, to the couple’s residence in the 1-100 block of Crooked Lake Lane for a report of a shooting.
Kellee Holmes called 911 and reported she had accidentally shot her husband, police said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said during an initial court hearing that Holmes and her husband returned home after buying cooking supplies at Jewel-Osco.
Charles Holmes went to urinate in the corner of the garage when Holmes exited the vehicle with her firearm in her hand, McConnell said.
One round was discharged and struck Charles Holmes in the abdominal area.
Officers arrived and found the man in the garage with a single gunshot wound, then-Lindenhurst Police Chief Thomas Jones said.
Paramedics transported the man to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was later pronounced dead that evening, McConnell said.
Holmes had a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license at the time.
Police conducted a preliminary investigation, including interviewing and collecting evidence, Jones said.
Lake County Judge Bolling Haxall released Holmes on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond following her arrest.
Haxall said during a bond hearing that prosecutors had not given sufficient probable cause for the “reckless” nature of the charge.
Holmes also has five kids, which appeared to influence Haxall’s decision to release her.
Court records show she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and the reckless discharge of a firearm charge was dismissed.
A judge sentenced her earlier this month to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
She was transferred to Logan Correctional Center on November 13 and released the same day due to credits she received from being on home confinement during the pendency of her case.