A beloved nurse and mother of one was allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled by her ex-boyfriend during an hours-long attack at their Illinois home, according to authorities and local reports.
Police responded to a home in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg on April 30 for a welfare check after a 911 caller reported not hearing from 43-year-old Katherine “Kat” Torbick throughout the day, according to the Schaumburg Police Department.
Officers, who were aware of a previous domestic violence incident involving Torbick and her former longtime boyfriend, Kevin Motykie, forced their way into the home and discovered Torbick dead inside, police said.
Motykie, 56, was found in the garage and arrested on an outstanding warrant linked to a domestic battery case involving Torbick. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault, authorities said.
The couple had reportedly dated for 10 years and lived together before ending their relationship earlier this year. Torbick had recently started seeing someone else, according to CBS News.
Investigators allegedly recovered a digital recording device from Motykie containing more than seven hours of audio in which Torbick was sexually assaulted, restrained, beaten and ultimately strangled, WGN9 reported.
According to prosecutors, the recording captured the pair arguing, with Torbick allegedly pleading with Motykie to get off her and not place handcuffs on her during the ordeal.
Authorities alleged that Motykie repeatedly accused her of cheating, sexually assaulted her despite her pleas for him to stop, and continued to interrogate and assault her throughout the recording. Prosecutors said he also struck her repeatedly and restrained her with duct tape.
Officials further alleged that Motykie threatened to kill Torbick and refused to release her while repeatedly choking her during the attack.
The final four minutes of the recording allegedly captured Torbick being strangled to death, according to the report. Prosecutors claimed Motykie could be heard saying, “I gotta go hang myself,” and “this will take 30 seconds, and think of somewhere happy” during the killing.
Police said Motykie appeared highly intoxicated and was slurring his speech when he was arrested. He later allegedly admitted to taking lorazepam and hydrocodone, according to reports.
Torbick had worked for more than two decades as a gastroenterology nurse at a nearby hospital and also served as a registered nurse at a medical spa, local outlets reported.
Staff at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin described her as a caring mother and valued colleague in a tribute shared on social media.
“In the short time she was with us, she became a part of our Sisterhood. She brought warmth, energy, and genuine care to our workplace. She loved being part of this team, and we loved having her here,” the statement read.
“Our hearts are with her family, especially her son, during this unimaginable time. We are holding them in our thoughts and sending all the strength and support we can.”
Reports also stated that Motykie had a history of domestic violence allegations, including accusations that he choked Torbick in March, hit her and attempted to gouge her eyes during a previous incident.
