Pathologist: Stolberg prevented wife from breathing
A forensic pathologist testified Wednesday that Rachel Stolberg died from traumatic asphyxiation when she was prevented from breathing during a struggle with her husband in their Vernon Hills home.
However, defense attorneys cross examining Dr. Manny Montez, who performed the autopsy following Rachel Stolberg’s death in 2011, pointed out she had no damage to her larynx, ribs, neck, throat or lungs despite being asphyxiated.
Ronald Stolberg is on trial in front of Lake County Judge Mark Levitt for his wife’s death. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Authorities said Stolberg, 49, intentionally asphyxiated his wife because she was bothering him while he was trying to sleep on June 7 and into the early morning hours the next day in their home in the 300 block of Farmington Lane.
However, defense attorneys say Rachel Stolberg died when Ronald Stolberg made a mistake while trying to prevent her from hurting herself during a mental breakdown she was having in the middle of the night.
He is held without bond and faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said Ronald Stolberg pushed Rachel facedown onto the hardwood floor and held her there with his knee until she stopped struggling.
Montez said, “like a boa constrictor,” Stolberg squeezed his wife hard enough against the floor to prevent her from inhaling, but not hard enough to break her ribs or injure her lungs, throat or neck.
“It’s possible to do this without a rib fracture or spinal injury,” Montez said testified. “If you don’t allow the chest to expand ... the person will stop breathing.”
However, defense attorney Kevin Rozner of Northbrook challenged Montez about the lack of injuries found during the June 9 autopsy.
“Doctor, you don’t know how she died, do you?” he asked during cross examination.
Montez replied, “I do know how she died.”
Following her testimony, jurors watched a video confession of Stolberg later in the afternoon.