Helen Kay Witter, an 80-year-old white woman from Lombard, Illinois, died on January 17, 2025, in a tragic incident involving her husband, 81-year-old Charles Witter. The event occurred in the early morning hours at their home on North Clarendon Avenue. Charles Witter called 911 shortly after 12:30 a.m., reporting that he had shot his wife. Upon arrival, police found Helen Witter unconscious in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 1:17 a.m.
According to court documents, Charles Witter stated that he and his wife had been arguing in bed when he retrieved a handgun from his nightstand and shot her once. He claimed that Helen, who had been suffering from dementia for approximately 15 years, was yelling at him, causing him significant emotional distress. He also mentioned experiencing severe pain from a shingles infection, which contributed to his state of mind during the incident. On the 911 call, he expressed remorse, saying, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do it."
Charles Witter was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder. During a court hearing, his attorney argued that the shooting was not premeditated and was influenced by his wife's deteriorating mental health and his own physical ailments. Despite these arguments, the judge denied pretrial release, citing concerns about Witter's judgment and potential danger to the community. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 10, 2025.
Helen Kay Witter was born on November 9, 1944, in Big Mound Township, Wayne County, Illinois. She graduated as salutatorian from Wayne City High School in 1962 and married Charles Witter in February 1963. They had four children and were married for 61 years. Helen was known for her dedication to her family and her active involvement in her community. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
