Geneva woman accused of killing husband with sleeping pills

A Geneva woman accused of poisoning her husband with a sleeping pill has been charged with first-degree murder.

Julia L. Gutierrez, 53, has been held without bail since Sunday in the Kane County jail. She appeared before Associate Judge Marmarie Kostelny Tuesday morning, but her bond hearing was continued to 8:30 this morning.

According to the Kane County state's attorney's office, sometime between Jan. 26 and 28 Gutierrez put the prescription drug Temazepam into a beverage and gave it to her husband, Eduardo Gutierrez, 53. Temazepam is the generic version of Restoril, which, according to a manufacturer's website, is prescribed for short-term use to treat insomnia.

An unidentified person called Geneva police the evening of Jan. 28 to request a well-being check at the Gutierrez home. Police found Eduardo Gutierrez dead and Julia Gutierrez needing medical attention. She was taken to a hospital.

William Barclay of Geneva said he'd been friends with Ed Gutierrez for about six years; they met when Barclay hired Gutierrez to perform work on a building. They both enjoyed running in local races and shared a desire to give back to the community by donating blood.

Earlier this month, Barclay said, Gutierrez had joked that he and Barclay should "race" to see who could give blood fastest. To make the competition fair, Gutierrez agreed to donate platelets, as Barclay does, which takes much longer than whole blood.

Barclay said Gutierrez helped neighbors, volunteered for charity food collections and had a strong faith, talking about his Christian beliefs without being pushy.

"He was a genuinely good guy. ... It's tragic what happened to him," Barclay said.

According to Gutierrez's Facebook page, he was heavily involved in activities and ministries at the North Aurora Seventh-day Adventist Church and in the denomination. He worked as a handyman, and he had recently taken over running a coin shop in Rock Falls after his brother, the owner, died.

In the past, he drove school buses, according to a friend and co-worker, Monica Ogen.

"Whether it was family or not, he was always at the ready to help. ... When I think of a good Christian, I think of him. He was the real deal," Ogen said.

Julia Gutierrez's page indicated she worked as a personal assistant.

They bought their home in 1989, according to Kane County recorder of deeds records.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Julia Gutierrez faces 20 to 60 years in prison with no chance of early release.

Neither of the Gutierrezes had previous criminal charges nor any past or active orders of protection in Kane County, according to county court records.

Neighbors said they were shocked and saddened of hearing of Julia's arrest.

One neighbor, who lived next door to the couple for 26 years, said Ed did odd jobs and handiwork for virtually all the neighborhood and Julia often would share vegetables from her garden.

"They were really good neighbors. They'd do anything for you," said the neighbor, who declined to give her name. "He was just a nice, nice man, It's horribly sad. It's really shocking. You wouldn't think of that, ever. Ever. I never knew them to have any problems."

Visitation for Eduardo Gutierrez is 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. A memorial service is noon Friday at North Aurora Seventh-day Adventist Church, 950 Mooseheart Road.

He is survived by five sisters, one brother and nine nieces and nephews, according to his obituary.

• Daily Herald staff writer Harry Hitzeman contributed to this story.