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A 56-year-old man in Illinois is accused of torturing and killing his longtime girlfriend shortly after she broke up with him in a prolonged attack of which he made an audio recording.

Kevin D. Motykie is charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault involving the death of 43-year-old Katherine D. Torbick.

According to a news release from the Schaumburg Police Department, officers responded to a residence in the 1700 block of West Weathersfield Way at approximately 9:20 p.m. on April 30 to conduct a welfare check.

The caller told the dispatcher they had been unable to get in touch with Torbick and were concerned for her safety. __Police were already aware of a recent domestic violence incident at the home and knew that Motykie had a pending arrest warrant for aggravated domestic battery against Torbick.__

Upon forcing entry into the home, officers discovered Torbick's body with multiple signs of trauma. Motykie was allegedly located in the garage of the residence and immediately taken into custody.

Following a detention hearing on May 8, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved additional felony charges against Motykie for criminal sexual assault involving threats to the victim's life.

A subsequent autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined her death to be a homicide by strangulation, according to a report from the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

Following the arrest, police reportedly found an audio recording device in Motykie's pocket. During court proceedings, prosecutors reportedly alleged that the device contained a seven-hour recording of the fatal encounter, which began at 2 a.m. on the day of the murder.

On the audio, investigators could reportedly hear Torbick "screaming" for Motykie to get off her and begging him not to put her in handcuffs, CBS News reported. The recording allegedly captured Motykie accusing the victim of cheating while he beat, bound, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. Torbick can reportedly be heard trying to escape before she is bound with duct tape.

The final four minutes of the audio allegedly captured Torbick being strangled to death.

Prosecutors said Torbick had long expressed fear for her life, reportedly creating a videotaped statement for law enforcement because she believed Motykie was going to kill her. On March 12, Torbick had filed a felony complaint against Motykie, and she had been hospitalized just days before her death following a separate attack.

In that prior March 16 incident, prosecutors said Motykie beat and strangled Torbick, threatened her with a knife, and forced her to write a suicide note to her 12-year-old son, according to the Scanner. Although an arrest warrant was issued a week later, Motykie was never taken into custody and reportedly continued to live in the home with Torbick.

The victim worked at the Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin, where colleagues described her as a valued member of their team. In a tribute posted to social media, the spa stated that Torbick "brought warmth, energy and genuine care to our workplace," adding, "She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story," the Daily Herald reported.

Motykie has a history of domestic issues, reportedly having had three separate orders of protection taken out against him by three different individuals. He was also involved in a civil legal feud with his brother, a California-based plastic surgeon, who accused him of stealing funds from a Barrington med spa business. Torbick had previously testified in that civil case as Motykie's girlfriend.

The defendant is currently being held at the Cook County Jail without bond and is scheduled to return to court later this month.

The alleged sexual assault occurred in September 2024, as the Baltimore Banner reports. The four Baltimore police officers — identified as Police Commander Jai Etwaroo and officers Juan Rivas, Angel Villaronga, and Jahmoor Acosta — were on paid administrative duty beginning last November while the San Francisco Police Department investigated the allegations.

The woman told the Banner her friend had been speaking with one of the officers on social media prior to the group meeting for drinks in San Francisco. After taking a shot of alcohol, the woman said she blacked out and later woke up partially undressed in a hotel room alongside one of the officers.

She said she had little memory of the night, and none of the officers answered when she asked what had happened. The officers were packing up to check out of the hotel room. She told the Banner she could not have consented to sex in her condition, and a friend who was present that night provided a similar account.

“At the end of the day, no officer should let something like that happen,” she said. “I felt like they took advantage of me. I don’t think that’s fair.”

Her friends urged her to undergo a rape kit exam, which she said she completed a few days later.

Prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, despite the SFPD submitting arrest warrants.

“In this case, there was insufficient evidence to meet our burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, so we are unable to charge this case,” the DA's office said in a statement, via the Chronicle.

The Banner reported last November that other Baltimore police officers have recently faced unrelated criminal charges. One officer was indicted on an attempted murder charge after he was seen in a viral video pursuing and striking a man with a vehicle.

In a separate case, another officer was federally indicted over allegations tied to a blackmail scheme involving a Maryland state senator.

A 28-year-old mother and her two young children were chased down a street and killed in a shooting that shocked a Florida city on May 3.

​According to the Plant City Police Department, the violence occurred at two separate locations. Officers first responded to reports of a disturbance in the 300 block of West Tever Street, where four individuals were found.

​A 4-month-old infant and a 4-year-old child had sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Their mother, Hailey Dempsey, was still alive when officers arrived. She was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Another child at the scene was unharmed.

​“During the investigation, officers were led to a second location in the 900 block of North Burton Street, where the 55-year-old mother of the 28-year-old was found deceased from a gunshot wound,” Chief Richard Mills Jr. said in an official statement on Facebook.

The victim at the second location was later identified as Valerie Deboe, Dempsey’s mother.

Investigators said that Dempsey reportedly ran nearly half a mile carrying her newborn baby while trying to save her children. The family was later found in bushes nearby.

​Husband Detained, Then Released

Hailey Dempsey’s husband, Jay Dempsey, 27, was detained nearby, with neighbors witnessing the arrest. However, he was later released due to a lack of evidence, according to the Daily Mail, and no suspect is currently in custody.

A neighbor of Deboe, John Czarniak, told authorities the couple had argued on May 1. Police were called to the residence but left soon after.

He also claimed he saw Jay Dempsey putting on a bulletproof vest and loading a large duffel bag into his car on May 2.

​”He came walking out of the woods at 3 a.m. (on May 3), got in his dead wife’s car, and drove off,” Czarniak said.

​Investigators also noted that Jay Dempsey is an avid shooter who previously shared multiple photos from his shooting outings on social media platforms.

After being released from custody, Jay allegedly left town and deleted all his social media accounts.

​Police Seek the Public’s Help

​The Plant City Police Department continues to investigate the killings and is urging the public to come forward with information.

​“Some of the people traveled on foot between North Burton Street and the West Tever Street locations during the early morning hours,” said Mills Jr.

​Authorities are asking residents and businesses in the area to:

​Review surveillance or doorbell camera footage recorded between 5:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on May 3, 2026.

Check for video showing a woman walking with three young children near North Burton Street, West Tever Street, or the surrounding areas.

​Anyone with information is urged to contact the police at 813-763-3316. “Information can be provided anonymously,” Mills Jr. said.

“I cannot imagine the devastation. I hope that child has supportive and loving family that will care for him,” said Camryn Henry of Plant City Commission Group.

​The investigation remains active and ongoing, authorities said.

A woman from New York was allegedly murdered while celebrating her birthday in Jamaica. 

On April 29, police were alerted that a woman — identified as Melissa Kerry Samnath — had died shortly after being dropped off at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE. 

An investigation revealed she had been assisted to the hospital by Dane Watson, whom she is believed to have married in December 2025. Police are now attempting to locate Watson, who is a person of interest in connection with the murder investigation into Samnath's death.

A post-mortem examination carried out on May 6 determined that Samnath died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma to the head. Evidence relevant to her death has been retrieved from a premises in Norwood, St. James, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's news release.

Detectives allegedly found her belongings alongside pools of blood in the property, despite neighbors claiming they didn't hear any screams or signs of distress coming from the home around the time she is believed to have been killed, The Gleaner reported.

Shortly before 11 p.m. local time on the night she arrived on the island, Melissa allegedly texted her relatives in New York pleading for them to contact the police, according to reports.

The last message they allegedly received from her said, “I need you to call the cops. … Look at my location,” per The Gleaner and TVJ. It was just over an hour before her birthday.

According to The Gleaner, Samnath's niece was among the family members who identified her before an autopsy was conducted. 

“She didn't deserve that,” Melissa's niece told the outlet, adding that her aunt was “one of the most loving persons ever”.

“My aunt was very helpful and family-oriented,” she continued, per The Gleaner. “When my grandfather died — her father — she was the one taking care of my other aunt and grandma.”

“It has been hard on us. We can't understand why he did this to her,” Samnath's niece added. “She wasn't an evil person. She was the baby of our family. Now we have to bring her body back to bury.”

Detectives are urging her husband to report to the Freeport Police Station in St. James or the nearest police station amid their ongoing investigation into Melissa's death.

A GoFundMe page to help raise funeral and memorial expenses has raised over $10,000 of a $16,000 goal since it was launched a week ago. 

“Melissa was a strong, loving, and unforgettable woman whose warmth touched everyone around her,” the fundraiser's organizer wrote. “She loved traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with the people she cared for most. Her loss has left a deep pain in our family that words cannot fully express.”

“As our family navigates this difficult time, we are preparing to honor Melissa with the peaceful and beautiful farewell she deserves,” the organizer continued. “For anyone who has asked how they can support, this page has been created to help with funeral and memorial expenses. While there is absolutely no obligation to contribute, any donation, prayer, or kind message means more to our family than we can put into words.”

A representative from the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica, the St. James Municipal Corporation and the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Rep. Max Miller accused of shocking physical abuse by ex-wife — but congressman claims allegations are made up

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) vehemently denied claims he burned and beat his ex-wife Thursday after photos surfaced purportedly showing the aftermath of the alleged physical abuse amid an ugly child custody battle.

Emily Moreno – Miller’s ex-wife and the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) – has been documenting the alleged abuse for years in shocking selfies, obtained by the Daily Mail, which appear to show bruises on her arms and torso and burns on her chest from the Republican congressman’s purported fits of rage.

The most recent instance of alleged abuse took place on Feb. 1, after an argument broke out when Moreno, 32, went over to Miller’s Ohio home to pick up their 2-year-old daughter, according to the claims.

Miller, 37, allegedly grabbed and hit Moreno in front of their daughter, leaving black and blue and red marks on her arms, elbow and abdomen.

Moreno snapped photos in front of a bathroom mirror the following day, showing her injuries.

The Bay Village Police Department confirmed that it responded to a report of child abuse on that date and that an investigation is ongoing, according to the outlet.

In an earlier incident, Miller allegedly hurled a pot of boiling water at Moreno during a June 9, 2024, argument.

Some of the boiling water hit Moreno in the chest and she took photographs of her injuries the same day, sources told the outlet.

One image showed Moreno with her T-shirt collar pulled down, revealing redness across her upper chest.

Their daughter was at home and looking on when the alleged incident took place, sources said.

A handwritten apology note, which did not reference physical abuse, was allegedly penned by Miller to Moreno on the day of the incident.

“I don’t know what to do. I do know you love me, protect me, and care for me. I failed to do that for you,” Miller allegedly wrote. “I’m sorry and I just want to close my eyes and wake up and everything be normal.

“I know that won’t happen. I’m sorry I failed you and [their daughter]. It’s eating me alive. I love you, even if you think I don’t. I love you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m just a f–k up and worthless.”

The couple filed for divorce two months after the alleged water-throwing incident.

“The photographic evidence speaks for itself. These images, combined with the documented history in court filings, directly contradict years of Mr Miller’s denial,” Moreno’s attorney told the Daily Mail. “Any claim that Ms Moreno fabricated these allegations collapses in the face of contemporaneous physical evidence.”

“It is unfortunate that these matters have become public when Ms Moreno has made every effort to keep them private and out of court for the sake of their daughter,” her attorney added. “But the ongoing pattern of behavior, coupled with the continued denials, has made silence no longer possible.”

Miller denied the accusations in a lengthy social media post, in which he included evidence he claims refutes the allegations of abuse.

“The moral of the story is this. My ex-wife needs help,” the congressman wrote on X. “She is more focused on hurting me than loving our child.

“She does not need ‘journalists’ that do nothing more than copy and paste what they receive from terrible lawyers, convincing someone that this will help them in court…it won't.”

Miller shared doorbell camera footage from the day of the alleged Feb. 1 assault showing Moreno leaving his home with their daughter and later returning for their dogs.

“Yes, I even said I love you on their way out,” Miller noted, adding, “Why would she [return to get the dogs] if she was afraid?”

Miller previously attested in a court document that his girlfriend was at the home when the alleged assault took place, but later retracted the claim.

The congressman also shared an audio recording of Moreno, dated Aug. 7, 2024 – after the alleged boiling water incident – where his ex tells him: “You are a very kind person and I don’t think you would ever hurt me physically.”

Miller, who was elected to the House in 2022, did multiple stints in the first Trump administration, including a Treasury Department role, serving as an associate director of the Presidential Personnel Office, and as a special assistant to the president.

The second-term congressman previously had a nasty defamation battle with former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, his ex-girlfriend, over a book she wrote detailing alleged “abusive” and “violent” behavior from an unnamed White House staffer.

In the secret audio recording shared by Miller, Moreno appears to refute Grisham’s allegations, suggesting what she wrote was “cruel” and “evil.”

Reps for Miller and Moreno did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.

Thomaz Kenon Hamilton, 24, has been arrested on murder and rape charges in connection with the death of 19-year-old Isabella Alexandria Stroupe

According to an affidavit cited by WBTV, WCNC and The Charlotte Observer, police said 24-year-old Thomaz Kenon Hamilton, who identified himself as Stroupe’s boyfriend, called 911 early that morning to report that she wasn’t breathing.

The affidavit states that Stroupe was found dead on a bed, where she had allegedly been restrained. Hamilton allegedly told investigators that the two were having sex when he believed she suffered a heart attack.

The girl’s death was later ruled a homicide by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office, which also determined she had been stabbed and had multiple broken bones, per the affidavit.

Investigators believe Stroupe had been tortured for months and couldn’t provide consent for sex, the affidavit reportedly states.

Authorities also reportedly alleged they recovered several pieces of evidence from inside the home, including a bloodied knife, a baseball bat, a sword and more, per the affidavit.

Police said in the release that Hamilton was arrested on Tuesday, May 5 on charges of first-degree murder and rape in connection with the case.

It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

In the wake of her death, Stroupe's family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses. The girl was remembered as a "total bookworm" and someone who loved "fanfiction."

"Her creativity brought so much joy to our family," Stroupe's family member wrote on the fundraising page. "Remembering her passion for books and the happiness she brought to those around her makes this loss even harder.”