Nun not guilty of running red light in fatal Elgin crash

It took two days for prosecutors to spell out their case against Marie Marot, a nun accused of running a red light in October 2007, leading to a crash that killed a Dundee-Crown High School student.

It took a jury about 35 minutes to decide that the 24-year-old nun was not guilty of disobeying the stoplight at Route 72 and Randall Road, rated one of Kane County's most dangerous intersections.

"We just thank God," said Mother Superior Marie Martha after the verdict. "We are happy the truth came out into the light."

Marot, from the Fraternite de Notre Dame in Chicago, did not take the stand in her defense and declined to comment afterward.

She maintained through her attorney, Donald Brewer, that the light was green. After the verdict she shared hugs and smiles in the courthouse parking lot with the 20-plus nuns who watched the trial and showed their support.

The crash happened shortly after midnight Oct. 7, 2007 when the southbound Ford E350 van Marot was driving struck a 1993 Honda Civic driven by Alex Pena in the intersection.

Keith P. Forbes II, a 16-year-old honor student riding in the Honda's back seat, died in the crash.

During the trial, prosecutors called numerous witnesses, including Pena and Miguel Realzola, who testified he was driving behind Marot and saw her run the red light.

Marot at the time was driving from a bakery in Algonquin where she volunteered.

Brewer argued that Pena ran the red light, saying she was out past curfew, running late, and driving with three passengers in her car instead of the one permitted under the state's graduated licensing program.

"They were late, They went through the red light," Brewer said. "They had time after the fact to put together a story and tell police what they want to hear."

Prosecutors argued that motorists other than just those in Pena's car saw Marot run the light.

Marot, who has no criminal history and a clean driving record, voluntarily submitted to a blood test that showed no indication of drugs or alcohol. She was not charged with killing Forbes, of Carpentersville, just running the red light.

Marot still faces civil lawsuits from Forbes' family members, Pena, and another passenger.

Brewer said the not guilty verdict on the traffic offense will "be a major boost to the defense of the civil case."

The jury left without comment and prosecutors Alex Bederka and Jonathan McKay also declined to comment afterward.