Jury: Aurora man threw girlfriend off bridge into Fox River

A Kane County jury Wednesday convicted an Aurora man of attempted murder for throwing his former girlfriend off a bridge and into the Fox River in 2008.

Jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Jonathan L. Zinke, 35, of the 300 block of Oak Avenue, guilty of attempted murder and aggravated battery in the Nov. 29, 2008 incident. He now faces six to 30 years in prison when sentenced May 13.

Assistant Kane County State's Attorney Scott Schwertley said Zinke scooped up and tossed the woman off the West Galena Boulevard bridge like "a piece of paper" in an attempt to kill her after she indicated she was ending their relationship.

"What other intent do you have for throwing somebody off a 25-foot bridge into icy cold water in November?" he asked jurors in closing arguments.

The incident happened about 3:30 a.m., following a night of heavy drinking and arguing for the couple. Public Defender Julia Yetter, who noted the victim also had used cocaine, questioned the former girlfriend's recollection.

"I'm not telling you (the victim) is a liar," Yetter said. "She doesn't remember what happened."

At trial, prosecutors called witnesses who heard or saw a man and woman tussling on the bridge from afar.

Although Yetter suggested her client was struggling to keep his girlfriend from falling, the victim, who survived with cuts, scrapes and bruises, told police Zinke pushed her.

At no point did Zinke call 911 or offer aid to the woman, prosecutors said.

Zinke, who remains in the county jail on $150,000 bond, appears to have no prior criminal history in Kane County, according to court records. His case was heard in front of Judge Allen M. Anderson, who will decide his sentence.