First-degree murder charge added in fatal boating crash on Fox River in McHenry
A Lisle man who has been jailed in connection with a fatal boating collision July 25 on the Fox River in McHenry has been charged with first-degree murder.
A McHenry County grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against Richard M. Stevenson, 45, with four additional charges each of aggravated driving under the influence and operating a watercraft under the influence.
Stevenson pleaded not guilty to all counts in a brief appearance Friday morning in McHenry County Circuit Court.
The first-degree murder charge as listed in the indictment said Stevenson operated his boat in a manner and location “knowing that such acts created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm” to an individual.
Magdalena Jablonska, a Marine veteran from Des Plaines, was killed and her fiance, Alan Telmini, also from Des Plaines, injured when Stevenson’s boat collided with theirs in a no-wake zone. He was traveling about 80 mph at the time, prosecutors allege.
Stevenson initially was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and one count of reckless homicide.
Charges outlined in the indictment for the first time noted that besides alcohol, Stevenson had cocaine and THC in his system at the time of the crash.
McHenry County State's Attorney Randi L. Freese in a news release Friday said the new charges followed “an extensive and continuing investigation,” by state Conservation Police with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com