Barrington man pleads not guilty in wife's death

A Barrington man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges alleging he killed his wife during an argument over a coffee maker.

Larry Lotz, 65, remains in Lake County jail in lieu of $3 million bail on three counts of first-degree murder in the Jan. 15 shooting, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman with the Lake County state's attorney's office. Lotz is due in court March 3, Vargas said. His trial was tentatively scheduled for May 9.

Authorities said Lotz told Barrington police during a videotaped interview that he shot his 59-year-old wife, Karen Lotz.

Larry Lotz became upset with his wife after she "began to nag him" for leaving the coffee maker on, authorities said previously. After unplugging the coffee maker, he retreated to an area above his garage to be alone.

Karen Lotz used a key to enter the office where Larry Lotz was, authorities said. He fired four rounds from a .45-caliber pistol and struck her three times, including once in the head, prosecutors said.

Lotz then called his son, who urged him to call 9-1-1, authorities said.

Barrington police arrived at the house before 1 a.m., Jan. 15, and found Karen Lotz with "serious injuries." She was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington, where she later died.

Larry Lotz also was taken to the hospital because of anxiety, but he refused treatment, officials said.

Karen Lotz was an admissions supervisor at Harper College, where she had worked for nearly 20 years.