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Handwriting sample ordered for Geneva murder suspect

A Geneva woman who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband and then tried to kill herself has been ordered to provide a handwriting sample so prosecutors can have an FBI handwriting expert compare it to a suicide note left at the scene.

Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler granted a motion Thursday from prosecutors to have Julia Gutierrez, 53, provide a handwriting sample.

Gutierrez is charged with first-degree murder of her husband Eduardo Gutierrez, 53, in late January at their home.

"The defendant has been charged with the first-degree murder of her husband, Eduardo, by poisoning him with an overdose of sedative pills prescribed to the defendant," wrote Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Greg Sams in a court motion indicating prosecutors planned to use an FBI handwriting expert at trial. "The people's theory is that the defendant murdered her husband as part of a murder/suicide attempt."

In court papers, prosecutors say they recovered a "handwritten note arguably admitting to the crime and advising of her attempt to take her own life" as well as a package Julia Gutierrez sent to a friend with a large sum of cash, a handwritten check and a "handwritten note signed with the defendant's name noting generally what the defendant planned to do and directing the friend what to do with the cash and check."

Gutierrez has been held without bail at the Kane County jail since her February arrest. She appeared before Tegeler.

Assistant Public Defender Julia Yetter asked Tegeler Thursday to set Gutierrez's bond, adding in court papers that Gutierrez was removed from "suicide watch" on April 6.

"Since April 6, there has been no incident in which the defendant is alleged to have acted in any way that would jeopardize her physical safety or that of any other person," Yetter wrote in court documents.

Tegeler will hold a hearing on Gutierrez's bail on April 29.

Prosecutors also want a potential jury to hear about "prior bad acts" by Gutierrez; authorities say she tried to kill herself and her husband in 2002.

Tegeler has yet to hear arguments from attorneys on this matter.

If convicted, Gutierrez faces between 20 and 60 years in prison with no chance for early release.

Geneva woman accused of killing husband with sleeping pills

No bail for Geneva woman charged with killing husband by poisoning him

Julia and Eduardo Gutierrez of Geneva. courtesy of Kevin Fitzpatrick
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