A judge sentenced a woman to 22 years in prison for shooting and critically wounding her husband and then telling deputies the couple was shot by an intruder near Wonder Lake.
Aneta M. Marsek, 46, of Wonder Lake, was charged in October 2024 with attempted murder, aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, aggravated domestic battery and two counts of obstructing justice.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection and Wonder Lake Fire Protection District responded around 11:05 a.m. on October 10, 2024, to the 8900 block of Tryon Grove Road for a report of a shooting.
Two people were reported to be shot at the residence, which is located in an unincorporated area near Wonder Lake and Richmond, according to emergency radio traffic.
A 911 caller reported one person was shot in the head and a second person was shot in the chest.
Two medical helicopters were called and landed in a nearby field. Mercyhealth MD-1, a mobile response doctor, was also requested.
The helicopters transported the injured subjects to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Rockford, both of which are Level 1 trauma centers.
Deputies shut down Tryon Grove Road between Greenwood Road and Barnard Mill Road for several hours.
The sheriff’s office issued an alert to people to avoid the area until further notice, adding that there was a heavy police presence.
Several schools, including Richmond Grade School and Nippersink Middle School, were placed on soft lockdown due to the incident.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said the shooting was domestic-related and prosecutors said the two subjects were husband and wife.
Marsek shot her then-41-year-old husband with the intent to kill him, the complaint said.
The complaint said Marsek falsely told deputies that an unknown intruder shot her and her husband but her husband told deputies that Marsek shot him.
The complaint said Marsek concealed evidence, being a gun, by hiding the firearm underneath a mattress in the home where the shooting occurred.
Forensic testing showed that Marsek was the lone shooter and that her injury was the result of her being disarmed by the victim, prosecutors said.
Sheriff’s officials said Marsek suffered non-life-threatening injuries while the male victim was listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Marsek was later released from the hospital and transported to the McHenry County Jail after being charged.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Marsek pending trial, calling her a willful flight risk and a threat to the community.
She appeared for an Initial Appearance hearing where McHenry County Judge Christopher Harmon denied her pre-trial release after granting the petition.
Harmon said that he agreed Marsek posed a flight risk after prosecutors detailed a 2012 incident involving a nationwide manhunt involving the woman and her children after they went missing from Volo.
Marsek and the children were found safe and the woman claimed they were going on a vacation. Marsek was treated at a mental health facility after being located in that case.
Court records show Marsek entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
Marsek pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony, which carries a six to 30-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt approved the plea deal on Tuesday and sentenced Marsek to 22 years in the IDOC pursuant to the agreement.
Prosecutors said the victim was in agreement with the plea deal and the dismissal of the attempted murder charge.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said that she commends the “exceptional work” of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and extends her appreciation to the victim for his “steadfast cooperation and continued candor during this traumatic time that allowed law enforcement to expose the truth and ensure accountability and as well as a just resolution to this significant matter.”