What's going on? >> [music] >> What do you mean you just your wife? >> This man had just taken his wife's life after leaving the driveway from a friend's house. But what officers discovered at the scene went far beyond anything they were prepared for. >> Ma'am, can you hear me? >> She's agonal breathing. >> What officers couldn't comprehend at the time was how a lifelong marriage had collapsed into an act of such cold cruelty. >> I I never never in my wildest dreams would have predicted this. >> We're getting a divorce. >> On September 2nd, 2025, officers in Pekin, Illinois received a disturbing call reporting that the blood-covered body of a woman had been found [music] next to a car. While the scene itself was already disturbing, investigators soon realized this was only the surface of a far more horrifying reality as one detail would soon expose just how dark this case truly was. >> Pekin 911, what's the address of your emergency? >> Uh 1806 South 14th. >> Can you say that one more time for verification, please? >> 1806 South 14th. >> Tell me exactly what happened. >> Uh I I don't know. I just came upon this person. I don't know what happened. I just came up here. >> What is What is he doing? >> He's He was He's now walking around outside the car of the same as his old as wife. And she's on the on the floor. On the on the pavement. >> Okay. Are you Is she there with you? >> Uh yes, but I tried to talk to her and she will not talk. And there's blood everywhere. >> Hold on. I'm going to get the fire department on the way. Officers are already on the way, okay? Just 1 second. >> Okay. >> Officers were the first responders confronted by the caller and the gruesome aftermath of events that had unfolded only moments earlier. As they worked to make sense of the scene, one officer shifted his focus to the alleged suspect, the victim's husband. >> You want to >> I got >> Check. >> I got a no no. >> Hi. >> Hey, I got a >> I'm Officer Moulton. Just so you know, I got a body cam. What's going on? >> I just killed my wife. >> Officer Moulton. What do you mean you just your wife? >> I just killed my wife. >> Okay. What happened? >> At the scene stood 93-year-old James Pate, his arms, hands, and shirt soaked in the aftermath of what had just occurred. In a disturbingly calm and detached manner, the man allegedly stated that he had just ended his wife's life. As officers continued their investigation, they began to uncover the horrifying brutality behind his confession, realizing that the crime was as violent as his state suggested. >> She is staying with me as her husband. >> Okay, so you know them? >> I do know him. >> Okay. Ma'am, can you hear me? Ma'am? >> Oh my god. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. You need to find that guy. >> She's >> She's staying with me. >> She's agonal breathing. >> She seems to be agonal. >> I can't tell. I No, it looks like her neck, maybe. You got Maybe neck? >> Do you know her? >> I do know her. But she's staying with me. She's She's the other half of the other half. >> Who's he? Who's he? >> He's the other half of the other half. >> There's There's the guy in the blue shirt. >> He's the other half of this. >> Yes. >> And I was just leaving after him, and he said his his wife. >> Yeah, that's him. >> That's him. >> The brutally attacked body of 80-year-old Cheryl Pate, James' wife, was found outside the car bearing horrific wounds to her neck. According to the autopsy report, Cheryl had been stabbed three times in the neck along with multiple superficial wounds across her face and throat. The injuries on her arms suggested that she'd fought for her life. The sheer savagery of the attack made one thing painfully clear. Her final moments were marked by intense pain and an unimaginable betrayal. Officers were now left to uncover what could have driven such ferocity, but the reason behind it would prove to be anything but tragic. >> Can you come up here, please? >> with all of them. >> What's your name? >> James Pate. >> What's your name? >> My name is Pate. >> Okay. Do you live back here? >> No, no. Uh but why did he walk down here with me, though? >> Okay. What do you have all over you? >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> Copy. How are you two? >> All right. Well, someone did >> All right. >> Let's stop over here, okay? What's your name? >> James Boyd. >> What's your middle initial, James? >> M. >> And your date of birth? Do you live at Hollybrook? >> She was on 14. >> Okay. What happened today? What do you mean a long-term thing? >> We're getting a divorce. >> Okay. What's her name? >> Cheryl. >> Cheryl? Is it c h or s h? >> c h e r y l. >> Okay. Same last name? >> Yes. >> Okay. She lives with you on Hollybrook? >> We were She was in the process of moving in. She was in the hospital. And she called a 105. >> And she what? >> She had a had a severe wreck. >> Okay. >> And she was in the hospital in Chicago. >> Okay. >> But she's been She's been back about 2 months or 3. I don't remember the date. >> Okay. So, what happened today? Why were you down here? >> Uh she's been staying with the lady you talked to here. >> Okay. >> They're at her home with her. >> Okay. She's been staying down here? >> Uh-huh. >> Okay. Can I pat you down real quick and make sure you don't have any Do you have a knife on you still? Don't Don't touch anything. Do you have a knife on you still? >> No, I don't. >> Okay. Where is the knife at? Just keep your arms up for me, okay? >> I'm not going to >> You got blood all over you. I don't want to get it all over me. So, how did Were you driving the car? Okay. So, you drove down here today? >> Yes, I was coming in. >> Okay. So, how did it escalate to where we are right now? >> It's It's always been an escalated It seems like. >> Okay. >> All right. I'm fine. >> But I mean, what happened here? >> He needed his bottle. >> the street and I don't have my body cam. >> She started yelling at me and we were arguing. >> I don't know if I'm recording. >> She tried to scratch me and I got out of the car. >> Okay. >> I just lost it. >> Okay, and what happened after that? >> if I'm recording. >> I don't know what was the matter. >> Okay. >> What I had in the car. >> And is this lane is this >> Okay. So, you guys got into an argument as you were leaving and she tried to scratch you? >> Well, she She is. >> I don't know if I'm recording. I don't know if I'm I >> She didn't scratch you? >> She tried to. >> Okay. >> I held her down. >> Okay. And then you grabbed the knife that was in the car? >> I did. >> And you cut her throat? >> I I hit her first. And then I got to the knife. >> Okay. Can I ask why it escalated so quickly? Like >> It's It's been going on, ma'am, for longer than I can remember. >> Okay. So, how long have you been going through the divorce process? >> We actually are just beginning the divorce process. >> Okay. >> The painful years of a deeply distorted marriage came to an end in the most ruthless way imaginable. Although Sheryl supposedly tried to scratch James, his reaction reflected years of suppressed anger released without mercy and in a truly unhinged manner. Neighbors would later say that arguments between the couple were frequent, yet no one could have imagined the violence would escalate this far. By then, the marriage was already on the verge of falling apart. Sheryl had been staying at a friend's house seeking support while the divorce process moved forward. As some officers stayed behind with James, paramedics rushed to save Sheryl, whose body bore the devastating marks of that final brutal encounter. >> I don't think I'm >> Are you okay? >> I am. >> I don't think I am okay. >> She had a gun, Sheryl. >> I can't tell. I >> No, it looks like her neck, maybe. What do you got? Maybe neck? >> Neck. >> I got a plan. >> Yep, neck. >> Go with it. >> I got a plan. >> Um and so he calls you. Can I see that phone call? >> No, he didn't call me. I I'm That's my car right there. I'm taking the dog for a walk. >> You just happened to come down here. >> to come down here and I'm like, "Holy crap, what happened?" >> Okay. And was he in the When you came down here, what did you see? >> He was walking back to our house. He was walking. >> And when you saw her, was this where she was at? >> Yes. >> Okay. So she was already on the ground? >> Already on the ground. And non-responsive. >> Okay. And he was walking back up to you. >> Yes. >> And he said to you >> I I stabbed my wife. >> Okay. Um did he have a weapon in his hand? >> No, he did not. And I was in the car. >> I I'm going to have you stay out of the car, okay? >> Here's the backpack. Alex, we need a bag. We need a what? >> BVM. >> I don't see any blood sure or back. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> I need the straps, please. >> Here. >> Ready? >> Yep. >> One, two, three. >> Can I see his wallet? If you want it. >> Yes, thank you. >> What's >> Here, let's step over here for now, okay? >> I got to take that collar off of her. >> We're going to go clear all the way to >> Sir, are you going to follow me and go to the hospital? >> All right. We're going to walk up here on the >> All right, take a little ride, okay? >> I don't want to take a ride. I don't want to take a ride. I want Where are we going? >> Put the brakes. I got you. >> I'm going to take this Give me your cell phone so that I can get the phone. >> I need bags. What's in there? >> Who's going with him? >> I am Jesse and Skyler. >> According to the witness, James was walking away from the scene when she came across him. When asked what had happened, he gave the same brief account he had made to responding officers. As officers spoke with the witness, Cheryl's friend, more unsettling details about the tragic event began to surface. >> came over this morning. We were going down to the bank to settle in in pursuance of the divorce. >> So, was he was he expecting you to come over this morning? >> Yes, absolutely. >> Okay. >> And he honked. I I was on the deck with her. He She said, "I'll see you after the thing." I Okay. And so I I thought everything was fine. I was just going to take my dog for a walk. >> Is this that red Toyota here? >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. >> It's still running and there's it's going to be a >> Did you Did you speak to him at all before? >> Yes, he was walking back towards our house with blood on his shirt and I couldn't didn't see Sherry then, but I said, "Jim, what's happened?" And he said, "I just shot my wife. I couldn't take it anymore." >> Was there anybody with you when he said that or >> No. My dog. He doesn't speak. >> [laughter] >> Got you. And that's your car behind her now? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. What's your name? >> Uh-huh. >> All right. >> And what's your name? >> Justin. >> Justin. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, I'm a detective here. So, thank you for that information. Give me 1 moment to talk to this officer. >> Of course. I just know what all the circumstances are. >> Okay. Well, I just got a lot. The husband Both of their plan was coming here to They were going to go to the bank to settle the title and finance. He came. He honked. She came out. They got in the car and they left. We were just going to take her dog for a walk later. As she's taking her dog for a walk, not long after they left, he's walking back to the house covered in blood. He said, "I just couldn't take it anymore. I just shot my wife." >> You see things on TV and it's not like what when you're really here. I I have never never in my wildest dreams would have predicted this. I've heard their phone calls, they've been very civil. Uh I don't know what happened. >> Sounds like they're going to OSF. >> I bet. She had Oh, I should have told him that. Uh she has a history of heart, she has a pacemaker. >> They'll figure all that out. >> Okay, cuz she goes to OSF, I know. >> I think they're trying to figure out where you found him. >> Right there. >> No, no, no. You said he was walking back to your house, though. >> Yes, yes. >> He So, >> How far back did he go? 10 steps. >> 10 steps about? Okay. Did you see anything in his hands, like a knife in his hand? Did you say he had >> He had blood on his shirt. And that's when I saw Sherry and I said, "Sherry, you know, I got no response." >> On that day, James and Cheryl were supposed to go to a bank to handle financial matters related to their divorce. However, what began as yet another argument slowly spiraled into something far darker and irreversible. According to Cheryl's friend, James said he couldn't take it anymore, but his words carried far more weight than a simple desire to stay away from his wife. By that point, officers had no choice but to take James into custody. >> All right, we're going to walk up here and we're going to take a little ride, okay? They're going to load him and go. So, let's you step over here to the license plate real quick while they get this ambulance out of here, okay? If you're okay with it, will you take him go with him to the PD and then I was going to just start on >> Uh-huh. >> the scene. >> If you uh feel dizzy down here, say we'll all get you. >> All right, James, let's go walk to the car. >> That is what we're providing, yes. >> All right, James, go ahead and have a seat for me. >> It might be easier if you put your butt down first and then kind of slide in. >> Got it. All right, James, go ahead and have a seat for me. >> Keep him warm in the ambulance. >> And you just sit tight. Officer, the ambulance is going to take you down to the police department and I'll meet you there, okay? >> Okay. >> With James secured in the patrol car, officers turned their attention back to Cheryl's friend, and that's when a crucial detail came to light. >> You already got your information, huh? Okay. >> Um that's their vehicle. I didn't search the inside for a weapon. I just It wasn't on the driver's seat, but I didn't go into the driver's the passenger seat yet. I don't know if he had it on him. But it's going to be a knife. >> Okay. >> And according to what he told me. >> Okay. >> I don't know that that's >> Why are they staying at Hollybrook, just out of curiosity? >> He lives there. >> Okay. >> She lives uh right now. She's been with me for a week. >> Going through a divorce. >> Going through a divorce, staying with her. >> Okay. >> He came here to pick her up. She thought they seemed fine. >> Yeah. Is there any particular Did he just move in to Hollybrook? Do you know any of those details? >> I do. Yeah, we're friends for years. >> Okay. >> Uh he moved in, I'd say 6 months ago. Maybe, yeah. And she has been in the hospital because she broke her pelvis. So, when she came back, she did not want to live at Hollybrook. So, that's been the ongoing issue. She was just about to go into Beacon Estates. >> Okay. >> And uh she was working all that out. And they were going down to the bank to divide up their money. They just sold their house. But I've heard their conversations on the phone. So, I didn't I mean, he I I never ever suspected this. >> Have they had issues? Have they been having issues like >> Has it ever been physical before? >> Not that I'm aware of. >> Okay. >> They lived over on Country Club on uh Mhm. Mhm. Yeah, that's They just sold the house. Uh anyway, [music] they just sold it about a month ago. >> Okay. So, they made the choice to move into Hollybrook. >> He did. He did. >> Okay. And they were going to split up. >> They Originally, he thought she would move in with him. She did not want to live at Hollybrook. So, she decided to move on her own, and that's when the whole divorce thing came up. >> Have they been talking divorce for a while? >> Uh no. Actually, they were going to separate but this recently they decided they couldn't work out their problems. >> Do you know of him to have any kind of history like with mental illness at all? >> No. However, he's 94. >> Okay. Um, he's never had like dementia, Alzheimer's or anything that you are aware of? >> No, probably some dementia, age related dementia I would say. >> Okay. Okay. >> But never violent that I have ever seen. >> Oh, okay. >> Except I will say this they had an argument about uh That's why she ended up with me. She says that he hit her. >> Okay. >> When they were at Hollybrook. >> Okay. >> So she called me and said, "Will you come and get me? I can't I can't live with somebody that's going to hit me." Now I have no proof that he did that. >> How long ago was that? >> A week ago. >> Okay. >> She's been with me a week. >> Okay. You said something like he said he couldn't take it anymore. >> Yeah, couldn't take it anymore. Couldn't take what anymore? Ready up and then he said, "I just killed her, that's it." >> Did he say anything about stabbing? >> No, yes then later he said I said, "So did you hit her? What What did you hit her with?" He said, "No, I a knife." He stabbed her. >> Did he say he used a knife with that? >> No. >> It's possible it's still in the vehicle. I looked at the driver side but I didn't look at the passenger side because they were still working on her cuz she was like half she was on the floor but her feet were still in like she was on the >> At this point an important detail already on officer's radar became increasingly obvious. James was likely suffering from dementia which impaired his perception of reality and limited his ability to fully process the gravity of what had occurred. At the police station this became more apparent as he struggled to recall and clearly articulate what had happened earlier that day. >> I go to the back door. Take your time. If you have to call somebody up the scene I lost one hearing aid. >> Okay. >> And I lost my glasses. >> Okay. You think they're by the vehicle or Don't know. Okay. Yes, as soon as we're done here I'll call Once I get you sat down I'll call somebody. >> I appreciate it. >> You bet. >> Okay, James. Um >> Thank you. >> Obviously because we're with the police department and you're in custody I have to read you your Miranda warning, okay? So I have to go through your rights. Do you know where the knife went? >> I I think I threw it. >> Okay. Do you think you threw it in the tree line or where did you throw it at? >> I just remember throwing >> Throwing it. Okay. And then did you drink a bottle of water that would have been outside of the car? Did Was there a bottle of water in the car that you would have thrown outside of the car? We don't know if it's just trash or if it was something that you left there. >> I had a bottle of water in there. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. The The officer that's out there was asking me cuz we just want to make sure that we know um everything that's out there. We want to make sure we know where it came from, okay? >> As detectives continued their investigation, critical information remained fragmented. The weapon used in the attack had still not been recovered and James' partial accounts offered limited help in solving this issue. >> I'm going to do all the pictures that I can with you sitting down before I stand you up, okay? So I'm going to just go face and work my way down and then we'll stand you up and turn you around and do the same thing. >> Okay. >> Okay? Are you still feeling okay? Despite everything? >> Yeah, I'm just not I'm not thinking too clearly. >> Okay. All right. James, now can you look this way for me? James, can you look up at the ceiling for me? Look up at the ceiling for me. James, can you tell me what that knife looked like? >> I think it was I believe it was red. >> Red? Was it like a like a utility knife, like a folding knife, or was it like a steak knife? Or like a box cutter knife? >> No, it was just a I think you had to open it. >> Okay. And when you threw it, cuz you're kind of you're you're kind of right down by that lake. [music] Do you know if you threw it into the lake, or if you threw it into the trees? >> Um >> And if you don't know, just let me know. If you don't know, I just tell me that. >> I I threw it that Not not towards the lake. >> Okay. >> The other way. >> Okay. All right, put that in there. And then can you take your watch off for me? Go ahead and give me where to take your socks off. Sorry, James. >> I'm sorry. >> No, you're fine. >> James, are you doing okay? James? >> Yeah, I asked him. He's got a slight felony history. But he said he's just not feeling like he's thinking right. He's just >> me to separate the socks, too? >> Yeah. I drew some blood on it. >> take your shirt off, okay? Here, let's get this button so that way we got >> Can you bring your sock already or >> Are you able to get it off yourself? All right. I got some clothes to switch you out into, just some like hospital scrubs, okay? >> While James was taken into custody, detectives remained at the scene, carefully documenting the horrifying setting and collecting evidence from both the vehicle and the surrounding area. With each photograph taken, the severity of the crime became increasingly disturbing. James was later transported to jail, where he would begin to face the consequences of his brutal actions. >> Mr. Pay, I'm ask you a few questions, all right? >> Sure. >> Um, do you have any medical problems? >> Um, nothing I guess real serious for my age. >> Do you have like any heart problems or diabetic, epileptic? Memory problems or anything or >> Uh, I've got memory problems. >> You got memory problems? You have like onset of dementia a little bit or anything or >> I I assume that's >> You assume that's what's my happening? Okay. Uh, do you don't need to go to the hospital for any any injuries or anything? >> No. >> I guess I'm talking kind of loud cuz I'm assuming you can't You can hear me quite well, can't you? >> Well, >> Or do you have a loss of hearing? >> Yes, I'm missing hearing. Yeah, I'm missing hearing. I lost one of my hearing now. >> Okay. Well, then I'll keep talking a little bit louder. Do you have any mental health problems? >> No, I don't think so. >> Okay. Are you suicidal? >> No. >> No. Are you under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the moment? >> No. >> No, okay. >> [clears throat] >> All right, I'm going to unbuckle you right here, okay? >> Okay. >> Now, I'll have you come on out with me. Come on out, my man. >> In the end, James was held on a charge of first-degree murder, but he wasn't as he passed away just 30 days after being taken into custody.