Family's anguish at center of hearing
Her family said Nancy Palumbo planned to divorce her husband, who had substance-abuse issues, but she delayed the split out of concern for their toddler son.
The decision proved fatal.
Her family's anguish filled a crowded courtroom Thursday during a DuPage County sentencing hearing for the slain woman's husband.
John Svenstrup, 45, admitted killing his wife in their Elmhurst home. He pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and relinquished his parental rights to the now 5-year-old boy. It continues today.
Svenstrup faces up to 20 years in prison. He'll serve just half the term following standard sentencing rules.
The family of 42-year-old Nancy Palumbo said the punishment is not justice. They'd prefer a life term. A crowd of about 75 supporters joined them in court.
"One month before she died, she finally realized the marriage was lost," said brother David Palumbo, who is adopting the couple's child. "Selfless to the very end, she delayed the actions needed out of a desire to protect her son. Miserable and scared, she worried about her son if he were to have unsupervised visits with his father."
Svenstrup called 911 at 10:45 p.m. July 2, 2005, to report he found his wife of 12 years unresponsive in their kitchen at 581 S. Poplar Ave. The Naperville financial adviser said she likely was electrocuted while making coffee -- but police didn't buy it.
"It looked to me like there was a struggle and the lady fought for her life," Elmhurst Detective Michael Campise testified. "It appeared the scene had been staged."
A toxicology test later found traces of GHB, a date-rape drug, in her system. Prosecutors said Svenstrup drugged and then attacked his wife, who had seen a divorce attorney.
They said Svenstrup sat on Palumbo's chest and smothered her after slamming her face into the kitchen counter. She had chipped teeth, broken fingernails and severe bruises.
Svenstrup, though, argues he never intended to inflict deadly force while trying to restrain her after she attacked him.
His attorney, Terry Ekl, argued the marriage was improving. He presented evidence that Svenstrup got treatment, passed a drug test and the couple were about to go on a week vacation.
Palumbo, a Barrington High School graduate, was the director of orthopedics at DuPage Medical Group. David Palumbo was joined in court by his parents, Fred and Mary Anne, of Huntley, and sister, Diane, all of whom spoke of their torment.
"He is never to be trusted," Diane Palumbo Kellett said. "How can the justice system release him in a few short years, causing our entire family to live out the rest of our lives in constant fear?"
The sentencing hearing before DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke continues this morning. He is not expected to rule today.