Partial human head found in Fox River near McHenry in area of where U.S. Marine veteran died in boat crash
Emergency crews respond to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry after a human head was found in the Fox River south of where a woman died after suffering severe injuries in a boating crash on Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
Authorities on Wednesday evening recovered a partial human head in the Fox River near McHenry close to where a U.S. Marine veteran died when an intoxicated and speeding boater crashed into her boat.
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry.
Emergency crews respond to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry after a human head was found in the Fox River south of where a woman died after suffering severe injuries in a boating crash on Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
A 911 caller reported finding a possible body part along the Fox River.
Deputies and firefighters arrived and found the human remains and notified the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.
Emergency crews respond to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry after a human head was found in the Fox River south of where a woman died after suffering severe injuries in a boating crash on Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police were also notified and responded to the scene.
Deputies had shut down Colby Drive in both directions and crime scene tape was established in the area where the discovery occurred.
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office both confirmed they responded to the scene but deferred comment to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Emergency crews respond to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry after a human head was found in the Fox River south of where a woman died after suffering severe injuries in a boating crash on Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein confirmed to Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Thursday morning that his office recovered a partial human head found in the Fox River.
The discovery was made in close proximity, south of where Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, died last weekend.
Emergency crews respond to the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry after a human head was found in the Fox River south of where a woman died after suffering severe injuries in a boating crash on Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
Rein said his office has not been able to positively identify the remains that were found yet.
“We understand how difficult this uncertainty is for the families and loved ones awaiting answers, and our team is working diligently and with the utmost care to establish a positive identification as quickly as possible. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as this process continues,” Rein said.
Jablonska and her fiancé were riding in a boat north on the Fox River in a no-wake zone when a second boat crashed into their boat from behind around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, died on Saturday afternoon after a speeding boat driven by an alleged intoxicated driver slammed into the boat she and her fiancé were riding in on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry. | Provided Photo
Jablonska was instantly killed and her fiancé and their dog were injured. The man was transported to a local hospital by ambulance with advanced life support care, McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Chris Kozel said.
One neighbor told Lake and McHenry County Scanner at the scene on Colby Drive on Wednesday that they would be relieved if the remains were found because it would help with closure.
Residents in the neighborhood have been afraid to walk to the edge of the river at their homes because they know the flow is in their direction.
Emergency crews respond to the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry after two boats crashed on the Fox River, leaving one person dead and another hospitalized Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Richard M. Stevenson, 45, of Lisle, was operating a 31-foot black and orange 2026 South Bay boat on the river.
Stevenson’s vessel overtook the second boat, a white and green 1997 Crownline, in the area of the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry, the complaint said.
A witness told investigators that Stevenson’s boat was traveling at “full throttle” as it entered the no-wake zone and crashed into the other boat, the complaint said.
Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, died on Saturday afternoon after a speeding boat driven by an alleged intoxicated driver slammed into the boat she and her fiancé were riding in on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry. | Provided Photo
Bystanders said the two boats were both traveling north on the river when the bigger boat was speeding and ran over the smaller boat in a no-wake zone.
Jablonska was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, according to McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein.
The complaint said the impact resulted in Jablonska being decapitated and prosecutors said earlier this week that first responders had not located her remains following the crash.
The complaint said a toxicology report showed Stevenson’s blood alcohol content was 0.236, which is almost three times the legal drinking limit. Prosecutors said in court his blood alcohol content was 0.200.
Emergency crews respond to the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry after two boats crashed on the Fox River, leaving one person dead and another hospitalized Saturday afternoon. Richard M. Stevenson, 45, of Lisle, (pictured) was later arrested on homicide charges and has since been fired from his family’s crane company where he worked. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
Prosecutors said that Stevenson was driving the boat at approximately 80 mph and had been drinking Fireball Whisky.
The victim’s brother, Marcin Jablonski, said that Magdalena was “always the sunshine wherever she went.”
“As a U.S. Marine, it was natural that Magdalena was always helping someone in need,” Jablonski said.
Stevenson was charged with one count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing a crash involving death, a Class 2 felony.
Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, (inset) was identified as the victim who died after a speeding boat, allegedly driven by an intoxicated man, crashed into her boat on the Fox River near the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry Saturday afternoon. | Background Photo: Tracy Mathesius; Inset: via Facebook
A LinkedIn profile for Stevenson said he was a Vice President at Stevenson Crane Service, Inc., based in Bolingbrook, and the company says it has since terminated his employment.
Two of the three occupants of the offending boat fled the area, prosecutors said. A bystander chased after Stevenson and ensured he remained at the scene until police arrived.
Multiple witnesses reported to officers that Stevenson had been consuming alcohol throughout the day while operating the vessel and was driving at high rates of speed on both the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River just prior to crashing into the Crownline, prosecutors said.
Dozens of first responders respond to the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry after a high-speed boat crash that left a woman dead and a man hospitalized on the Fox River Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
Stevenson remains held in the McHenry County Jail after the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial, which was granted by McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb during an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Monday.
“This man was a ticking time-bomb and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River,” McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office Deputy Chief Brian Miller said during the hearing.
Dozens of first responders respond to the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane in unincorporated McHenry after a high-speed boat crash that left a woman dead and a man hospitalized on the Fox River Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Tracy Mathesius
Illinois Conservation Police said this week that they are seeking the public’s help in determining what happened prior to the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the events leading up to the crash or have useful surveillance video should complete an online incident report form.
No funeral services have been announced yet for Jablonska.
