A beloved nurse and mother of one was allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled by her former boyfriend in a recorded, hours-long attack at their home in Illinois, according to authorities and reports.
Details of the Incident
Police in Schaumburg, a Chicago suburb, responded to a welfare check on April 30 after a 911 caller reported not hearing from 43-year-old Katherine "Kat" Torbick throughout the day. Officers, aware of a prior domestic violence incident between Torbick and her ex-boyfriend Kevin Motykie, forced entry into the home and discovered Torbick's body. Motykie, 56, was found in the garage and arrested on an outstanding warrant for domestic battery involving Torbick. He now faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault.
The couple had been together for ten years and lived together before breaking up earlier this year. Torbick had recently started seeing someone else. Police recovered a digital recording device on Motykie containing over seven hours of audio capturing Torbick being sexually assaulted, bound, beaten, and eventually strangled.
Prosecution's Account
Prosecutors stated that the audio clip captured the pair arguing, with Torbick begging Motykie to get off her and not put handcuffs on her. Motykie allegedly berated her about "cheating" and sexually assaulted her as she pleaded for him to stop. The assault continued with Motykie repeatedly hitting Torbick and restraining her with duct tape. He told her he would kill her and refused to free her, continuously choking her throughout the ordeal. The final four minutes of the recording captured her being strangled for the last time.
Motykie allegedly muttered, "I gotta go hang myself," and "this will take 30 seconds, and think of somewhere happy" as he carried out the killing. Police noted he appeared highly intoxicated and slurred his speech upon arrest. He later admitted to taking lorazepam and hydrocodone.
Victim's Background
Torbick worked as a gastroenterology nurse for over two decades at a nearby hospital and as a registered nurse at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin. The spa remembered her as a loving mother who cared deeply about her clients. In a social media post, they wrote, "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. She made an impact that will not be forgotten with both clients and teammates."
The statement added, "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. She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story."
History of Abuse
Motykie had a lengthy history of domestic violence allegations. He was accused of choking Torbick at their home in mid-March, as well as hitting her and attempting to gouge out her eyes.
