Amanda Ramsey Dockery, a 48-year-old resident of Geneva, Illinois, died on June 14, 2023, as a result of a violent incident involving her ex-husband, Chad L. Dockery. The events unfolded when Chad Dockery called 911 at 5:22 p.m. on June 14, reporting that he was armed with a pistol and had murdered his former wife at her home in the 1000 block of Pebble Beach Court in Geneva.
According to autopsy reports, Amanda Dockery suffered two gunshot wounds.
The first shot, which was fired at close range, struck her left side, fracturing her rib and perforating her lung before exiting her back. The second shot, which did not show evidence of close-range firing, struck her right side of the head, fracturing her skull and lacerating her brain before exiting the left side of her head and lacerating her ear.
When police arrived at the scene, Chad Dockery was found in a vehicle at the end of the driveway. As officers approached, he shot and killed himself using the same 9 mm pistol found at the scene.
The incident occurred just a week after a court appearance on June 9, where Chad Dockery was ordered by Associate Judge Bradley David to pay Amanda Dockery more than $10,000 in monthly installments to clear a debt. Failure to comply with these payments could have resulted in his arrest. Chad Dockery had been in financial trouble, having started bankruptcy proceedings, and was facing significant financial obligations, including child support and maintenance payments.
Chad and Amanda Dockery had been married for almost 21 years before Amanda filed for divorce on July 12, 2019, citing irreconcilable differences. They had two children, Chase and Macey Dockery, and had sold their joint home in the Mill Creek subdivision the month following the divorce filing.
Amanda Dockery was described by neighbors as an "amazing woman" and a "sweet lady" who was always wonderful to those around her. She was a full-time homemaker and worked part-time, and her death has been mourned by her family, including her children, fiancé Michael Nenni, and other relatives.
The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Geneva police and the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, although the motive behind Chad Dockery's actions remains unclear.
