Husband admits killing wife
An Elmhurst man admitted Thursday killing his wife two years ago in their home.
John Svenstrup, though, argues he never intended to inflict deadly force while restraining her during a violent struggle.
The 44-year-old man pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder after agreeing to relinquish his parental rights to the couple's 5-year-old son.
Svenstrup faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced Nov. 15. He is eligible for parole after serving half of the prison term.
The family of the slain woman, 42-year-old Nancy Palumbo, said the punishment does not fit the crime. They'd prefer a life term.
"We always knew he killed Nancy and we have waited too long for this admission," her parents and siblings said in a statement. "(He) cares so little for his son that he was willing to give up his parental rights to save his own hide."
Svenstrup called 911 at 10:45 p.m. July 2, 2005, to report he found his wife unresponsive in their kitchen at 581 S. Poplar Ave. He later told authorities she likely suffered a heart attack or was electrocuted.
A medical pathologist determined she died from asphyxiation after being smothered. She had two chipped teeth, broken fingernails and bruises on her chin and upper arms.
DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said Svenstrup told police his wife was injured in a recent bike accident. Birkett, though, said a home video of Palumbo shot one day before her death did not show any injuries.
Birkett said Svenstrup attacked his wife, who had hired a divorce attorney and complained of her husband's alcoholism. Birkett said Svenstrup sat on Palumbo's chest and smothered her. She died after choking on her own vomit, a pathologist found.
"This was not an accident," Birkett said. "She fought for her life. The defendant gave 13 varying accounts of what happened -- an absolute lie upon lie upon lie."
Defense attorney Terry Ekl said Svenstrup maintains it was his wife who attacked him. The husband said Palumbo accidentally died while he restrained her. Svenstrup also suffered cuts. Police found blood spatters from both of them.
Svenstrup was free on $2 million bond until April 2006, when prosecutors had it increased to $5 million after a toxicology test found traces of GHB, a date-rape drug, in Palumbo's system.
Investigators did a retest after getting a tip from an informant who said Svenstrup was trying to buy GHB six months before her death. The informant told police Svenstrup claimed he needed the drug to help his wife sleep, prosecutors said.
Svenstrup did not have a prior criminal history. He worked in Naperville as a financial adviser. Palumbo, a Barrington High School graduate, was the director of orthopedics at DuPage Medical Group in Glen Ellyn.
They were married about 12 years. Their son will be adopted by her brother and his wife.
"Any attempt by the defendant to exercise parental control over this child will violate today's agreement and result in the re-instatement of first-degree murder charges," Birkett said.