A grand jury has indicted a former company executive on first-degree murder charges for allegedly driving drunk and at 80 mph when he caused a boat crash that left a U.S. Marine veteran dead near McHenry.
A McHenry County grand jury returned a bill of indictment on Thursday against Richard Stevenson, 45, of Lisle, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with the July 25 fatal boating crash on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry.
The indictment additionally charges Stevenson with aggravated driving under the influence and four counts of operating a watercraft under the influence, all of which are Class 2 felonies.
The new charges follow an “extensive and continuing investigation” by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.
“Based upon a comprehensive review of the totality of the evidence, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office determined that the presentation of the First Degree Murder charge to the grand jury was required,” the state’s attorney’s office said Friday.
The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment on all charges presented. Stevenson pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday.
The indictment said in addition to alcohol, Stevenson also had THC and cocaine in his system.
Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, and her fiancé, Des Plaines resident Alan Telmini, were in a Crownline runabout motorboat that was operated by Telmini on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry on July 25.
Stevenson was operating a newer model South Bay tri-toon pontoon boat equipped with three 500-horsepower outboard motors.
Telmini was operating the Crownline boat within a designated no-wake zone on a narrow strip of the Fox River “at a very slow rate of speed” near the easterly shoreline, a lawsuit complaint said.
The complaint said Stevenson was operating the South Bay at speeds of more than 75 mph as he approached the same area where the Crownline was traveling.
Stevenson operated his boat in a manner and speed that the front end of his vessel was “significantly upright over the water level, so as to compromise the Defendant’s ability to see watercraft vehicles and persons that were directly in the path,” the suit said.
The suit also alleged that Stevenson had consumed alcoholic beverages that “significantly compromised” his ability to operate the boat safely.
He drove his high-powered boat into the couple’s boat with “such force and violence” that the South Bay boat rode up the stern of the victims’ boat and “literally flew over the top of it” and the outboard sterndrives, pontoon tubes or attached propellers caused a decapitation injury to Jablonska, the suit said.
Telmini also suffered physical injury, as well as emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder, the complaint said.
“At said time and place, when this violent impact occurred, [Telmini] was not only physically struck by the boat on his left side, but he saw his beloved fiancé decapitated while she sat within inches of his person.
The suit says Stevenson was careless and negligent by operating under the influence of alcohol, failing to keep a proper lookout, operating at a greater than reasonable speed and failing to yield the right-of-way.
His actions resulted in Jablonska’s death from “severe and debilitating injuries.” The suit says Jablonska’s two brothers, two sisters and parents have suffered the loss of her “continued love, affection, support and society.”
The estate’s special administrator is one of Jablonska’s sisters. The three-count lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damage in excess of the $50,000 threshold.
A visitation for family and friends was held on August 9 for Jablonska, who “left this world far too soon” and was a proud United States Marine veteran “whose strength, loyalty, and determination carried through every part of her life,” according to her obituary.
“She had a generous heart and was the kind of person who always put others before herself. Whether it was helping family, caring for friends, or rescuing animals, she never hesitated to give whatever she had to someone in need. She never met a stranger for long because she had a way of making people feel like family,” her obituary said.
The law firm representing the estate of Jablonska said they are seeking to “hold all responsible parties accountable” following the crash where the couple was enjoying an afternoon on the Fox River. The couple’s dog, Sasha, was on Jablonska’s lap and survived.
Attorneys Louis C. Cairo and Michael D. Krause say their law firm’s investigation “extends well beyond” the actions of Stevenson.
Boaters and residents observed the same offending boat speeding excessively on the Chain O’ Lakes on numerous prior occasions, attorneys say.
“The civil justice system exists to hold negligent parties accountable, and we intend to pursue every avenue available under Illinois law. Our mission is to uncover every fact and identify every party whose conduct may have contributed to this tragedy,” Cairo said.
GWC said they will retain boating safety specialists, accident reconstruction experts and marine engineering consultants to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
A LinkedIn profile for Stevenson said he was a Vice President at Stevenson Crane Service, Inc., based in Bolingbrook, and the company says it has since terminated his employment. He remains detained in the McHenry County Jail.
Magdalena’s obituary said she “loved deeply and fiercely.”
“Her family meant everything to her, and those fortunate enough to know her will remember her for her compassion, resilience, sense of humor, and her ability to make everyone around her feel loved. Her kindness touched countless lives, and the memories she created will live on forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her,” her obituary said.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said that on July 29, days after the crash, someone found a partial human head in the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry.
Rein said his office was working to positively identify the remains that were found. Prosecutors said that first responders had not immediately located all of the victim’s remains following the crash.
Multiple witnesses reported to officers that Stevenson had been consuming alcohol throughout the day while operating the vessel and was driving at high rates of speed on both the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River just prior to crashing into the Crownline, prosecutors said.
Anyone who witnessed the events leading up to the crash or has useful surveillance video should complete an online incident report form to assist Illinois Conservation Police in the investigation.