Nephew killed Park City woman over financial dispute, police say

Investigators believe the 68-year-old Park City woman found dead in her home early Tuesday morning was killed by her nephew over a long-simmering financial dispute.

Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said Thursday the disagreement between Nancy Wilcox and nephew Jeffrey M. Thrall, 60, began before Thrall was incarcerated in 2018.

Thrall was released from the Lake County jail about noon Monday, and investigators believe he drove to Wilcox's home and killed her within 12 hours of getting out, Covelli said.

She was stabbed multiple times and beaten, the Lake County coroner's office said Wednesday.

"The preliminary autopsy results indicate she died of multiple sharp and blunt force injuries," Coroner Howard Cooper said.

Investigators later found Thrall in Wilcox's vehicle at a service station near Green Bay Road and Sunset Avenue in Waukegan and he was taken into custody.

Thrall, who has no current address, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is being held at the Lake County jail on $5 million bail.

Covelli said he couldn't go into detail about the money dispute between Wilcox and Thrall since it will be discussed in upcoming court proceedings.

Thrall is next due in court at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

Cooper said his office has been "in close contact with Ms. Wilcox's family."

"This is truly a tragedy," he said.