On a quiet September morning in Illinois, dispatch receives a call about a situation involving an elderly couple at a rural home. What follows will lead officers into a case that unfolds in unexpected and tragic ways. Tazewell 911, what's the address of your emergency? Tell me exactly what happened. >> Uh I I don't know. I just came upon this person. I need an ambulance and the police. Okay, what's going on with them? >> Uh he I don't know what happened. They're in my driveway. He just came up here. He's now walking around outside the car saying he killed his wife. And she's on the on the floor. Okay, are you Is she there with you? Uh yes, but I've tried to talk to her and she will not talk. And there's blood everywhere. Are you with this male right now? Yes. Yes. Okay, and he's saying that he killed his wife? That's what he said to me when I came upon them. Okay, is is she awake? No, she's not. >> Is she breathing? I can't tell. It looks like yes. Do you need to talk to him? No, that's fine. Hold on, I'm going to get the fire department on the way. Officers are already on the way, okay? Just 1 second. >> Okay. What Did you hit her? What happened? Did you hit her? What did you hit her with? Did she say something to anger you? He said, "Okay." Are the police on their way? Yes, ma'am. I'm talking to the fire department right now and the police are also on the way. And how about the ambulance? The ambulance is coming as well, ma'am. That's the fire department. They're all together. Oh, that's the fire department. Okay. All right, I get it. I I'm I just feel shaken up. Okay, do you see the officers there? Yes, there's someone They're here. Okay, I'll let you talk to them, okay? Yeah, it's a long driveway. He's here with me. You want to check Hi. I'm on the mountain. Just so you know, I got a body cam. What's going on? I just killed my wife. What do you mean you just killed your wife? I just killed my wife. Okay, what happened? Can you come up here for me? What's your name? Okay. Do you live back here? I live I live at 14th Street and I can't think of the name of it. Do you live here? No, no. Uh lady that walked down here with me does. Okay. So, who is that lady? Ma'am, can you hear me? Ma'am? I can't think of her name. Hi. What do you have all over you? [Music] Okay. Oh my god. Can you hear me? We need to find that guy. He's staying with me. Do you know her? >> I do. But she's staying with me. He has his own place. He was Who is he? Who is he? He's the other half. There's there's the guy in the blue shirt. He's the other half of hers? Yes. And I was just leaving the house and he said he killed his wife. Yeah, that's him. That's him. Oh my Hey, come over here, honey. Are you okay? I I don't think I'm okay. Is that a gunshot, Tyler? I can't tell. I No, it looks like her neck, maybe. What you got? Maybe neck. [Music] Yep, neck. What happened today? What do you mean a long-term thing? >> We're getting a divorce. Okay. What's her name? Is it C H or S H? >> C H. Okay, same last name? Yes. Okay. Was she leaving your house? They were They were both leaving together. They were leaving your house together? >> Yes, together. And they got this far and I don't know what happened. He said I just couldn't take it anymore. He said I couldn't take it anymore. Okay. And my my body cam's on. Okay. 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 take you 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? She was walking back to her house. She 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, non-responsive. Okay. And he was walking back up to you. Yes. And he said to you I I killed 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? Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. 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 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. Where's the knife at? Just keep your arms up for me, okay? I'm not sure. >> You got blood all over you. I don't want to get it all over me. >> Okay, I'm sorry. What's in this pocket? I'll get it. What's in there? I think a phone. I can't remember. So, how did Were you driving the car? Okay. So, you drove down here today? Yes, I was coming to Okay. So, how did it escalate to where we are right now? It's It's always been an escalator at the same place. Okay. But I What happened here? She started yelling at me and we were arguing. She tried to scratch me, I guess. I don't know. Okay. I just lost Okay, and what happened after that? Okay. Okay. So, you came to pick her up today? Yes, we were going to the to set you up. So, you guys got into an argument as you were leaving and she tried to scratch you? >> Well, she Yes. She didn't scratch you? She tried to. Okay. Okay. And then you grabbed the knife that was in the car? I did. And you 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 I'm just beginning the divorce process. Okay. [Music] What would you like here? What's your name, sir? The knife in question is Sounds like we don't know. He did not have it on him at all. Okay. [Music] Uh here's what we're going to do. Uh let's walk up to one of these cars out here. We're going to have to go somewhere and talk, okay? All right. [Music] [Music] How old are you, James? Okay. All right, we're going to walk up here and we're going to take a little ride, okay? Where did you last see that knife? It was in the car. In the car, okay. You see things on TV, but it's not like what when you're really here. I I have never never in my wildest dreams would have predicted this. The female victim is going through a divorce. That's her husband covered in blood. >> Uh-huh. The female victim has been staying here for a week. The husband They planned was coming here to They were going to go to the police station and settle some finances pursuant to the He came, they talked. She came out, they got in the car and they left. We're 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 And we get called. James is very cooperative. We're going to We're going to go to the PD and get an additional statement there. Okay. Um I'll have to do some Yeah, we're going to get pictures and We've got a plan right now and then we'll Yeah. We're probably We'll probably take some pictures of you two as well, okay? Don't worry. you have any cuts or anything on you? It looks like you got a little something. I don't know. Okay. Pee in my pants. Okay. 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. And you just sit tight. Officer James is going to take you down to the police department and I'll meet you there, okay? Okay. Uh we're going to go to one of the interview rooms. I'm going to have to Yes, take the jewelry and all this personal items. She's been with me for a week. Going through a divorce. Going through a divorce. He's been staying with her. Okay. He came here to pick her up. She thought they seemed fine. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Is there any particulars Did he just move in to Hollybrook? Do you know any of those details? >> do. Yeah, we were friends for a year. >> Okay. Uh he moved in, I'd say 6 months ago. Okay. Yeah. And she had been in the hospital because she broke her hip. So, when she came back, she did not want to live at Hollybrook. So, that's an 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. Okay. But I heard their conversations on the phone. So, I didn't I mean, he I I never ever suspected this. Okay. Have they had issues? Have they been having issues? Like >> Has it ever been physical before? >> Not that I'm aware of. Okay. At this moment, I think she's still alive. She's not pronounced. I've got a crime scene back here with the car and then I need to talk with Butler cuz I don't know if that happened in the car or outside of the car. I don't know where the knife is yet. >> The knife Yeah, knife was left in the car. He He dropped it in the car. Okay. Do you know M to have any kind of history like with mental illness at all? No. Okay. How we ever seen He's 94. Okay. So. He's never had like dementia, Alzheimer's, anything that you are aware of? >> No. Probably some dementia. Age-related dementia, I would say. Okay. 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. Mhm. He said How long ago was that? >> A week ago. Okay. She's been with me a week. Okay. During transport to the station, the elderly man's demeanor remains calm but distant. He offers little resistance and speaks in short, quiet sentences appearing dazed with his clothing marked by the events that had just taken place. Meanwhile, at the hospital, medical staff work urgently to save his wife, but despite their efforts, she is pronounced deceased a short time after arrival. Back at the station, investigators begin piecing together what led to this tragic outcome. Friends and family would later describe growing tension between the couple in the weeks leading up to that morning. The two had been navigating a difficult separation and discussions about dividing their finances had become a frequent source of disagreement. Those close to them reported arguments, stress, and emotional distance, an escalating pattern that set the stage for what unfolded. Based on the evidence at the scene, witness statements, and the man's own admissions to officers, he was formally charged with first-degree murder. As the investigation continued, detectives focused on understanding how a long marriage had deteriorated into a situation neither family nor friends ever expected. In the months following the incident, a judge denied the man's petition for pre-trial release, and prosecutors maintained that he posed a risk if allowed back into the community. However, developments later took an unexpected turn. While being held in the county jail, his health began to deteriorate. In October 2025, he was diagnosed with serious complications related to a bacterial infection contracted in custody. Testing later showed that the facility's plumbing contained Legionella bacteria. As his condition worsened and doctors determined recovery was unlikely, he was placed into hospice care. He passed away shortly thereafter before his case could proceed to trial. Because of his death prior to conviction or sentencing, there was no formal verdict entered in court. The investigation remains a matter of public record, and authorities have continued to release updates about related procedural and facility responses following his passing.