JOLIET – A northern Illinois teacher brutally beat his wife to death after she intervened when he was hitting their 11-year-old son, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Michael Kazecki, 38, of Joliet, faces first-degree murder and aggravated domestic battery charges in connection with the death of his wife, 38-year-old Rebecca Kazecki.
Rebecca Kazecki died at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center shortly after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Long said she suffered head trauma, skull fracture and brain bleeding.
The fatal attack was the last in a string of beatings carried out over the course of 3 days by Michael Kazecki against his wife, Joliet Deputy Police Chief Al Roechner said.
Michael Kazecki called 911 Tuesday afternoon and claimed his wife was suffering from “alcohol issues,” Roechner said. Officers found his wife, unresponsive, in the couple’s home. She was transported to the hospital where staff discovered she had been severely beaten and alerted police, Roechner said.
Long said Rebecca Kazecki was brain dead when she was transported to the hospital, adding that in a police interview, her husband admitted to kicking and punching her.
The couple have three children ages 11, 9 and 5. Long said Michael Kazecki was hitting his 11-year-old son when his wife intervened.
Bond was set at $2 million, $3 million lower than what prosecutors requested.