Woman gets 22 years in Elgin frying pan murder
An Elgin woman was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to beating her 55-year-old boyfriend to death with a frying pan three years ago.
Nora Leach Peterson, 37, of the 100 block of South State Street, was initially declared unfit to stand trial for the murder of Michael N. Mielczarek. She was restored to fitness and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, according to Kane County court records.
Judge James Hallock accepted the guilty plea.
Peterson also gets credit of more than 32 months in jail while the case was pending.
Prosecutors said Peterson and Mielczarek argued in their apartment the afternoon of Aug. 18, 2012, and Peterson struck him on the head several times with a frying pan, causing his death.
"Had cooler heads prevailed, Michael Mielczarek likely would be alive today. But that is the nature of domestic violence," said State's Attorney Joe McMahon, who thanked police and prosecutors. "Emotion gets the better of someone and without intervention, violence often ensues. Domestic violence is preventable, and prevention starts with awareness."