Katie Smith

Katie Smith

Reporter

Katie reported on the crime and courts beat for the Northwest Herald from 2017 through 2021. She began her career with Shaw Media in 2015 at the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb, where she reported on the courts, city council, the local school board, and business. In her free time, she likes to read, write, work out, and pet other people's dogs.

Latest from Katie Smith

Timeline: The death and disappearance of Michelle Arnold-Boesiger

Throughout their investigation, police tracked Jonathan Van Duyn and Michelle Arnold-Boesiger’s cellphone movement and activity and examined Illinois Tollway photos and videos, according to court documents.

By Katie Smith●

McHenry County’s top 10 stories of 2021

A presidential visit, a double homicide in Algonquin and an ‘American Idol’ semi-finalist all made headlines in McHenry County this past year.

By Cassie Buchman, Ben Szalinski, Sam Lounsberry, Katie Smith and Emily K. Coleman●

Elgin woman charged in Wonder Lake armed robbery

Police have arrested a 19-year-old woman in connection with a Nov. 22 armed robbery at Sunrise Food and Liquor in Wonder Lake.

By Katie Smith●

Prosecutors file first-degree murder charges against man wanted in connection with Algonquin double homicide

Maxim Parnov now is accused of causing blunt force trauma to both Elvira and Peter Almen, resulting in their deaths.

By Katie Smith and Cassie Buchman●

Crystal Lake woman acquitted in boyfriend’s fatal overdose

A 24-year-old Crystal Lake woman was acquitted Thursday of drug-induced homicide charges tied to her boyfriend’s 2019 overdose death.

By Katie Smith●

Police: Person of interest in Algonquin homicide investigation in custody in Wisconsin

Maxim Parnov, who police had been searching for in connection with two Algonquin residents found dead this week, is in custody in Wisconsin on Thursday morning, police said.

By Cassie Buchman and Katie Smith●

Crystal Lake man sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting child

A 24-year-old Crystal Lake man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting a child in 2013.

By Katie Smith●

Harvard barn catches fire Wednesday

The barn was empty and no injuries occurred as a result of the fire, officials said.

By Katie Smith●

McHenry PADS shelter christens new kitchen with Thanksgiving meal

"The shelter brought stability to our community as well as those who are homeless," Pioneer Center Co-CEO Sam Tenuto said. "And the meals, the kitchen bring greater stability."

By Katie Smith●

Cary man accused of walking away from alleged DUI crash

After crashing into a tree, the 59-year-old walked away but was located shortly after a few blocks away, Crystal Lake police said.

By Katie Smith●

Judge to announce verdict in Crystal Lake drug-induced homicide case

Veronica Kubiak, 24, isn’t accused of personally delivering the drugs to the 26-year-old Lake in the Hills man. Instead, prosecutors allege that she drove him to Chicago to buy drugs.

By Katie Smith●

Crystal Lake Food Pantry sees less in donations during Community Harvest

Local food pantries in need of volunteers, donated food and supplies as they weather the pandemic.

By Katie Smith●

Trial underway for Crystal Lake woman charged in fatal overdose

The woman’s attorney recently sought to have the charges dismissed in light of an amendment to the state’s good Samaritan laws.

By Katie Smith●

Former Lake in the Hills man accused of stealing money from church friends accepts plea deal

Carlos R. Meza was sentenced to conditional discharge after pleading guilty to a felony count of theft of more than $10,000.

By Katie Smith●

Reactions mixed over Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal following days of deliberation

Reactions are mixed to a Wisconsin jury's decision on Friday to acquit 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges tied to the deaths of Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, whom Rittenhouse shot and killed last year during a night of protests in Kenosha.

By Katie Smith●