Police say the audio captured hours of violence before Katherine Torbick was found dead.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — A 56-year-old Schaumburg man is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault after police said they found his longtime girlfriend dead in their home and recovered an audio device from his pocket.

The case against Kevin D. Motykie centers on what prosecutors describe as a recording of an attack that lasted more than seven hours inside a home in the 1700 block of West Weathersfield Way. The victim, 43-year-old Katherine D. Torbick, was found April 30 after a person who had not heard from her asked police to check on her. Motykie is being held in the Cook County Jail as the case moves through court.

Officers went to the home about 9:20 p.m. for a welfare check, Schaumburg police said. The caller told dispatchers Torbick could not be reached and there was concern for her safety. Police said they already knew of a recent domestic violence incident at the same address and that Motykie had a pending arrest warrant in an aggravated domestic battery case involving Torbick. Officers forced their way inside and found Torbick dead with visible signs of trauma. Motykie was found in the garage and arrested. Authorities said he appeared impaired, had trouble standing and was taken for medical treatment before being released to police custody.

The investigation changed after officers found a digital recorder in Motykie’s pocket, prosecutors said in court. A search of the device produced audio that began about 2 a.m. and ran until about 9:24 a.m. Prosecutors said the recording captured Torbick pleading, screaming and trying to stop Motykie from restraining her. They said Motykie accused her of cheating, placed her in handcuffs, used duct tape, beat her, sexually assaulted her and made repeated threats to kill her. Court records say the final minutes captured the fatal strangulation. The Cook County medical examiner ruled Torbick’s death a homicide by strangulation.

Police initially found Torbick on a couch, according to court accounts. The medical examiner noted neck marks, bruising and other injuries that prosecutors said matched a prolonged assault. Officers also recovered handcuffs and a key from Motykie, according to court records. In the garage, police noted a rope tied into a noose hanging from an overhead beam. Prosecutors said Motykie made statements during the recording about killing himself. Authorities have not said in public filings that any suicide attempt occurred after police arrived. Motykie has not been convicted, and the charges remain allegations unless proved in court.

The home had been the scene of a previous reported attack weeks before Torbick was found dead. Prosecutors said Torbick accused Motykie of attacking her in March after he accused her of cheating. In that incident, she said he strangled her until she could not breathe or speak, hit her, tried to injure her eyes, held a knife and forced her to begin writing a suicide note to her 12-year-old son. She later escaped to a neighbor’s home, and the neighbor called 911. Police documented injuries, and an arrest warrant was issued March 16. Authorities said Motykie was not taken into custody before Torbick’s death.

The relationship between Motykie and Torbick had lasted about 10 years, authorities said. They lived together at the Schaumburg home, and prosecutors said Torbick had started seeing another man in April. That man went to the home after he last heard from her the night before the welfare check and could not reach her again. Prosecutors said the recorded attack included Motykie questioning Torbick about another relationship. The case also includes references to earlier protective orders involving Motykie and other people, as well as a civil dispute with his brother that once listed Torbick among the plaintiffs. Those records now serve as background in a criminal case focused on Torbick’s death.

Torbick worked for years as a nurse and was also employed by Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin. The business remembered her as a teammate and friend who brought warmth and care to the workplace. Coworkers called her “Kat” and said she made an impact in a short time there. Prosecutors also noted that she was a mother. In court accounts, one of the most pointed details is that Torbick pleaded about her son during the recorded attack. Authorities said Motykie responded that the boy would be better off without her. The statement is part of the prosecution account and has not been tested at trial.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a first-degree murder charge and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. After a detention hearing May 8, Motykie was ordered held pending trial. Prosecutors said the sexual assault counts involved threats to the victim’s life. The case was assigned in the Rolling Meadows courthouse, where prosecutors have relied on court documents, police reports, medical findings and the recording device. Motykie was due back in court May 29, and CBS Chicago reported he appeared in court that morning. Public reports did not show a final resolution by June 3.

The known timeline now runs from a March domestic battery complaint to a March 16 arrest warrant, then to Torbick’s new relationship in April, the recorded attack that prosecutors say began in the early morning hours of April 30, the welfare check that night and the detention order issued May 8. The unknowns include what Motykie’s defense will argue, whether additional evidence will be filed under seal and how much of the recording could be used in future hearings. For now, the case remains in Cook County court with Motykie detained and prosecutors pressing charges tied to the audio they say captured Torbick’s last hours.

Author note: Last updated June 3, 2026.