Twenty-three-year-old Army veteran Joseph Jesk called 911 and told the operator he had "killed the only person he'd ever loved," according to an article published by the Southtown Star. While he doesn't dispute that he shot and killed wife Heather Jesk, he insists that it was not a cold-blooded murder.
His lawyer, Illinois criminal defense attorney Michael Clancy, described it as a tragic accident but did not provide additional details as to what went wrong:
"At no time did this young man intend to harm his wife."
Mr. and Mrs. Jesk were arguing in the basement of their Oak Lawn home when a guest allegedly saw Mr. Jesk holding a handgun to his wife's head, according to prosecutors. The guest then ran upstairs out of fear and just moments later, Mr. Jesk allegedly fired his gun and killed Mrs. Jesk.
The couple's two surviving children, an 11-month-old and a 2-year-old, reportedly were not in the house at the time. The Jesk's extended family are trying to figure out the best way to care for the two young girls.
Mr. Jesk reportedly showed significant remorse for the killing and was seen by reporters standing next to his attorney with his head down, wailing. Cook County Judge Joan O'Brien ordered that Mr. Jesk cannot see his daughters or contact Mrs. Jesk's parents. He was ordered to be held on $1 million bond.
Mr. Clancy told reporters that Mr. Jesk had been looking for work after an 11-month tour of duty in Iraq, but said he wasn't sure if post-traumatic stress disorder was a factor in the shooting. He said the couple had just closed on their own condominium before the tragic incident:
"It was a happy day for them. I think they were very happy with each other and their relationship."
That all changed with the pull of the trigger.
Related Resources:
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Accidental Killing (LawBrain)
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Vet Accused of Killing Wife Weeps as Prosecutors Outline Case (Chicago Tribune)
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Chicago Criminal Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
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