Man Runs Over Wife, Stomps Her Face in Front of Paramedics: Cops
Although he reported the incident as an accident, the Crest Hill man was charged with murder after police reconstructed what happened, police said.
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After running over his wife in their garage and calling 911 for help with the "accident," paramedics arrived just in time to see a Crest Hill man stomping in the dying woman's face, police and prosecutors said.
The man, Jerry Nichols, 62, appeared in bond court before Will County Judge Roger Rickmon Monday afternoon. Nichols faces two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors dropped charges of domestic battery and reckless homicide.
Nichols' wife, Diane Nichols, 57, was taken from their 16040 Arborvitae Circle home to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where she was pronounced dead at 11:49 a.m. Saturday.
Crest Hill Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said detectives have yet to establish a motive for the alleged Saturday morning attack. Both Wilkerson and Will County Assistant State's Attorney John Connor said Nichols has no known criminal record.
Nichols ran his wife over with a four-door Honda, police said. When Nichols called for an ambulance, he said he accidentally hit her with the car, according to police.
But when the ambulance arrived, there appeared to be nothing accidental about the way Jerry Nichols was going after Diane Nichols, Connor said.
"As emergency personnel approached the scene, the defendant was stomping on the victim's face in the garage," Connor said as he asked Rickmon to hold Nichols in the Will County jail on a $5 million bond.
Nichols' attorney, Stephen Murphy of Oak Lawn, pointed out that his client had been a longtime employee of the LaGrange Public Works Department before retiring. Murphy also said Nichols is also a Vietnam veteran, has lived his entire life in Illinois and was married to his wife for 12 years before her death Saturday. Murphy then asked Rickmon for a $100,000 bond.
"That's not going to happen," said the judge, who kept it at $5 million.
"I think the charges are appropriate and so is the bond with regard to this serious crime," Chief Wilkerson said.
One woman wailed outside the courtroom after the hearing. A man with her said the family did not wish to discuss the case.
An autopsy on Diane Nichols was conducted Monday, and the prelimary cause of death was found to be multiple injuries caused by blunt trauma, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil said.
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In This article
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Will County Building
302 N Chicago St, Joliet, IL -
Presence St. Joseph Medical Center
333 Madison St, Joliet, IL -
City of Joliet
150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL -
Will County State's Attorney's Office
121 N Chicago St, Joliet, IL -
Will County Adult Detention Center
95 S Chicago St, Joliet, IL
Tim F
4:10 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
What I see here is a poster child for the reinstatement of the death penalty
Sashie
4:33 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I so agree with that. hell has a special place waiting for him
shannon k
7:48 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
that man is my uncle you jackass!you have no idea about him.he's never been a violent person!you dont know the circumstances nor do you have any idea what tragedies are family has been through.
GlockG22Shoots40s
11:47 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Hey Shannon... your uncle is a lower than a piece of garbage. I don't care what the "circumstances" are nor the "tragedies" your family has been through. Running someone over with a car and stomping on her head until she dies is animalistic. The guy needs a bullet to the head.
Christy
10:55 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I so agree with you Tim, Sashie and GlockG22... I don't care what a family has gone through or any circumstances surrounding this. It's bad enough the jackass ran her over but stomping her head in after the fact is overkill. Maybe someone should do to him as he did to her. Then lets see what you're saying Shannon about what that person did to your uncle. I hope he burns in hell for what he did!!
Tara
4:58 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
WOW...Running over your wife and stomping on her in the presence of EMTs and you go from Murder charges to domestic battery and reckless homicide? Got some friends in high places, Mr. Nichols? How is this not first degree murder?
JOHN
7:02 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
READ THE W H O L E ARTICLE PLEASE !
Smitty
10:38 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"Nichols faces two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors dropped charges of domestic battery and reckless homicide."
katie
5:28 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
@Tara. Read the article again, that's not what it says
JEG
6:13 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Tara, It is first degree murder. Read the article.
dave bird
7:08 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
sounds like that jerk george kleopa $2,000,000 bond and made bail.
mel
7:26 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
her death has saddend many people she was a beautiful person
Outlaw
7:30 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Looks like John Roberts. Gandbanger from the hill!
John Roberts
5:24 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lmao...probably up there running shit...throwing up signs,saggin pants..lmao
Outlaw
7:45 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Wheres Clutche? What do u think about papa "G" ? What about this thug? What a contradiction.
815crazy
2:36 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
He 's not black so of course Clutche n the redneck crew have nothing to say.
John Roberts
5:41 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What about this guy..He is your average citizen,an Ex- Soldier what are you?...What ya got to say on the subject? What is your intellect on it?..What is your debate?..about guns,thugs? What...besides this guy was married,went to war,was until now a normal,average citizen...I mean with a comment like this no one knows what your asking for...Every human being on this earth is capable of killing...no matter what age...You can say no but I bet all of the people sent to Vietnam by force..I mean Draft...didn't think they could kill either..."Papa G" gave for his country atleast...If he didn't just kill har out of spite because something happened then there is a possibility he when ape shit..but to see your wife there on the ground..if you knew enough to run her over then get out of the car like you know something is wrong then stomp on her face...chances are they got into it before this happened...
Rozeeta
8:14 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
So wait "Shannon K", let me get this right; because of some past family tragedy, it's ok for him to murder her so brutally? You sound just as f-d up as him. Stomping that poor woman in the face proves he has a violent side.
Donna
1:57 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Agreed
Carol Van Tricht
10:14 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
He deserves to suffer the same violent death he inflicted on his wife! I don't give a damn who he is related to or where he worked. This poor woman was a human being and regardless of any prior conflicts or problems didn't deserve to be brutally murdered. FRY HIS ASS!!!
'Shannon K' you say this is your uncle, then that would make the woman he was married to and murdered your aunt.. I don't see a single word from you showing any feeling for the horrific death she suffered.
John Roberts
5:27 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Instantly it's pick a side..not hey try to find out what happened..Remember this is the woman he loved,..this means she is related to both not just one...means she calls him uncle,that means family...better to know what happened to him also as family to make him do this...how do we Learn anything if we just kill what ever we do not understand...
Nancy L. Lawler
10:21 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Diane was my very dear friend. Jerry had been very nice to her during their marriage and I believe he really loved her. He had PTSD from Viet Nam. Did he snap? Our country has young men go to war to kill. Then they have to re enter society with balloons and puppies. I am horrified by her death and will miss her terribly. I don't think this is a simple issue.
John Roberts
5:32 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
This is what I tried to tell Karen Sorenson on her topic about letting ex- Soldiers stand guard at schools with no backround check, was it from Vietnam no one knows as of yet..but I have a friend that if the wind blows throu the trees to hard he goes back into a flashback...we fish right down at the old Joliet Beach Club....he was shot 14 times in Vietnam and still Suffers from PTSD...and yeah he does really think he is back in Vietnam..like the world just switched into an unsafe battle zone....
K.J
11:54 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
What do you gotta say clutche is that one of those thugs from the hill or a redneck like you?
Daniel W. Serdar
12:57 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
No one should have to go thru this....I always say if its that bad just walk away and move on.....but in this case no one will know the real reason why this happened....just sorry to hear this even though I never knew her....just very sad....but my motto is...what goes around,comes around !
Time Is Money
2:48 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
If their not
Black or Mexican clutche doesn't have anything to say my prayers goes out to this woman's family
John Roberts
5:22 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I always said..The label Felon does no good..A person who commits a crime when they are 18 is no more dangerous than a guy who waits until he is 60...people of all generations will commit crimes..Sad to say this happened..but it does....look at the man who spiked his wife in the head with a hammer...she died of a heart attack not the blunt force trauma and he was let go...Only charged with aggravated battery...not Murder...
Outlaw
5:32 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
White folks sugar coat everything when it come to their own. He ran his bitch ova and continued to beat her. And if the ambulance didnt come him and john roberts was gone eat her.
John Roberts
5:47 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lmao..Intelligent..really intelligent...you have to be like only 15 or so right?...no way you can be an adult..isnt there an age recommendation to be on here?..lmao...don't sound like something an adult with at least some kind of sense would say..it sounds like a child's comment...
John Roberts
5:55 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
And you know what at least he did it face to face and killed her..He didn't get some gun and drive by and shooting the place up like some fuckin morons...
I'm Just Saying
10:15 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
SICK THOUGHTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
DrealDT
6:51 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
This goes back to the saying gun don't kill people ,people do and they would use anyway they know how
Bob
8:21 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I suppose our politicians can now call this an assault Honda....time to ban a vehicle with multiple doors.
GlockG22Shoots40s
11:53 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
LOL... true Bob... so true
DrealDT
6:55 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Clutche somewhere trying to figure out how to turn this story around to make it sound better
Sheila m
7:15 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. He could have been a bastard and abusive to her for years with nobody knowing. He could be suffering from dementia or a brain tumor. He could be mentally unstable from PTSD. Whatever the reason, he got angry and ran over a defenseless woman, then stomped her face because she wasn't dead yet. He's a brutal murderer and a danger to society. Lock It up, throw away the key.
Jeannie niderleidner
8:03 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I believe it would take a lot for a person with no record to just snap and commit such a horrible act of violence on someone they had been with for 12 years. I am sorry to the families involved. Loss is never easy.
Kathe Powers
8:37 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Let the families be please..... whatever happened they are hurting.. no need for useless comments.. Its a tragic thing that happened and there is alot of hurt.. Yes he did murder someone he loves and he should pay for this by law but its not up to us to sentence him its the judges and the judge will .. i believe he should rot in hell cuz he hurt my family loved one.. but we need to focus on the Dianes family and give them all the love and support we can.... Lord, put your angels wings around Dianes loved ones and hold them close and give them comfort in this time of need. Let them remember the wonderful person Diane was and still is in the kingdom of heaven.. Amem
Special Rex
8:44 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Clutche stop hiding! Come on...and tell how his wife hung around the wrong crowd and it led to her death. Or how her history provoked all this...
Special Rex
9:05 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
And I do apologize to those who do find that offensive. But criminal or not, you go to a grocery store and you don't have any criminal history. And some random guy pulls out a automatic rifle and kills you. People you hang around has nothing to do with that. Couldn't it just be the guy lost his mind or just snapped?! Smh...
Special Rex
9:07 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
May that poor women rest with harmony.Fn Coward!
kim
9:16 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
very sad all the way around. May she RIP and I am sure that man will get his in the end. But for his time left here, let a jury decide his future. All the hate on this topic is exactly what is wrong in this world. why lash out at each other on a forum like this, it does no good, just creates more hate. Very very sad. Prayers are with the families of both people.
Infamous Steve
10:00 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Funny how people are calling clutche out on here. It's like you people WANT to hear what he has to say. Reading through there was 4 different calls for him to comment. It's like some of you want to start a Patch war with him...lol so lame.
815crazy
10:47 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
No its just that when the person or persons that committed the crime is black him and the rest of his crew are the first to make a million comments that are more than likely racist but now he has nothing to say. May she R.I.P
John Roberts
1:04 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"more than likely racist" how is it more than likely...Lmao...it either is or isn't..But people like you like to take shit and make it racist..Like black people beating up white people for saying Nigga..Now why is he getting beat? Is it becaus eye said Nigga? No it is cause he is white and said nigga..and the niggas beating someone for saying it are being just as racist for beating someone because they were a certain color and said nigga not because they said it...thoes of you who want a racist comment just to comment back and justify your racism are just as racist as anyone else...Know what I mean Nigga...or Nikka or how ever in the hell people say it today..lmao...people of all walks of life commit murder..so much murder happens in this world we have different classifications of it..
I'm Just Saying
10:13 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What is this World coming to all Humans are Killing Humans what the F--K . We need PEACE in The WORLD Did we FORGET! :( Prayes go out to her Family.
815crazy
10:51 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@ John Roberts Ptsd my ass im pretty sure during war they dont call 911 then stomp someone face in.
John Roberts
1:16 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Which is exactly the kind of stuff that helps determine the claim...he knew he did wrong if he called the paramedics.therefore was able to understand the situation of someone being hurt!which is not the case when people "snap"...like people claim to snap off but seem to calm right down when the police show up...now that is a recognition of authority...when you "snap" there is no clear line between who is who....now he might just as well try to claim insanity..but info like him calling the cops,getting out of the car,and then the paramedics observation surely the evidence points all to "he did it". But now to find out why,and what he was thinking while doing it...Not justifying his actions when I say PTSD...but you can not rule it put,plus no one knows this mans mental history,weather he took medications,weather he was in therapy,weather he was ever checked for or treated for any kind of mental disability at all...not a one of us but the family knows...is reason for my comments..not just thinking one way..but thinking of the whole picture...
whop/luv1
11:57 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Fuck what happened in the past...were talkn about what happnd the night he did this...charge his throwback santaclaus lookn ass accordingly..
caroline
1:20 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I knew Jerry and Diane for many years now he loved his wife. I'm not defending him but mental illness is obvious in this killing. He had no criminal background and it would seem something snapped to lead to this sad sad event. Instead of everyone bashing him he may not of even realized what he was doing while this was happening. I'm sure the realization of his actions will be torture enough. They were both great people and I hope Diane r.I.p. everyone who is bashing Jerry imagine if it was one of your family members and you are reading these comments. These comments are just as bad as what he did. Just because they give the option to comment on this article you people should act semi sane yourself and avoid saying things that are hurt full. He will pay way beyond what he deserves. This should be a mental illness awareness issue not what you believe should happen to him.
Special Rex
3:51 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@ John Roberts at first thought you were alright...no better than clutche...smh
John Roberts
12:01 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I am no better than anyone..get it right I am just like everyone...but I am a realist..most of the stuff offend people sure it does..But only people who chose not to want to deal with things that are brought up..You know how it was and still is..The "We don't talk about that in front of the kids,parents,"thing...This is sheltering and ignoring what we don't like...Knowledge is learning about the things we do not like..or want to talk about...so someo f the things I say might be harsh but there is truth behind what I say..The ole grab a pitchfork and a rope and jump on the band wagon stuff goes away with knowledge and the wanting to understand..It comes with becoming mature and educated...Maybe if I came on here saying reaming "Let's kill him" I could fit in more with the in crowd..and just forget about Why,What,When,Where and all the other circumstances that came with this another crimes committed like this...We humans are the dumbest things on this earth..If an Alien landed on the earth First thing we would do is "Kill It" then dissect it and wonder the rest of our lives How,What,When,Where..and feed ourselves with useless information that we learned and only assume we know correctly instead of actually finding out the truth...With our Kill It mentality.As All of us have" Slavery Stitched into the fabric of our clothes..
Dave Nauta
4:47 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
i can tell by most of your comments none of you know this family. i've spent the last 16 years knowing and loving this family. and this is all just messed up. i am best friends with Diane's daughter. i won't say name out of respect for her. but i can say both sides of the family are torn apart. jerry has always had a anger problem since i met him 13 years ago but always seemed to really care and love Diane. no one will ever no what really happened but jerry. and i don't think he will be talking any time soon. all anyone can do now is just remember the good times we had with Diane. may she r.i.p. now. and to the family u know who u are my heart goes out to u all.
Debi T
8:11 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Hi Dave, my mom just called me with this horrific news. Please let the kids know that their Mom's BUNCO club for 30+ years sends their love and you are all in our prayers. If there is anything they need just let us know!
Jen Yur
4:50 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Wow you people need a life. It's tragic and we will let the courts decide his fate.
Jack LaLane
4:53 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Mebbe he caught her with the neighbor?
D Smith
8:27 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Boy, some will look back 40 years to borrow an excuse as to why a murderer did what he did today. Why is that?Why the exemption? What makes him different/special?
liz
8:31 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Jiji
Outlaw
10:41 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
John roberts got a garden. He gay as hell. But u think blacks are cowards cause of drive bys. And here u go picking peppers and egg plants and shit.We live in two different worlds miss roberts. Just comment on politics and pesticides. Leave the hood alone. Oh and plant me some green tomatoes beeyotch!
John Roberts
12:13 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Gay..lmao..married 15 years,3 kids 19,18,13..lmao..no its called education..Know who Monsanto is? Know what GMO is?..Know what the FDA is,Know Wht a Lobbiest is?..I'll tell ya what find the connection betepween these...start with CANCER...then you will know why I have a garden..Know what Fluoride is and what it is used in..It is in your water and used in The Best Rat Poison on the market...After you find out that Monsanto has been kicked from 28 countries and learn why..your ass will be planting a garden too...buddy I know gang members,And Real OUTLAWS...I know millionaires,and people who were....I know all kinds of people buddy and we all live in e same world..that's what most people do not realize..While all the gang members are out there acting stupid shooting each other the Second Amendment is being debated because of it,The war on Drugs keeps getting more and more violent,People shooting each other for coming to their town and making music videos..Yeah I am on Worldstarhiphop all the time listening to them talk shit..all races...then seeing a follow up video explaining why someone was shot to death...Andnthe government wants the regular common person to give up their Second Ammendment rights..The whole thing about running up into a place well the debat on that is thoes theatre shootings and school shooting were gun free zones....gangs this is about drugs.andnturf to sell them..I know the game bud..
Outlaw
4:45 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Ok so you're an educated fag! Whoopdeedoo.
Outlaw
4:48 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
And Miss roberts always write long @ss comments. Since you like gardens, plant this polish in your mouth. Scholar.
sarah sing
7:47 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
John Roberts, You need to get a life man, a job or something. You are spending way too much time on this tragic story.
Pat Magroin
8:59 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
@sarah sing.
We all wish John Roberts would just go away. I take it from his screen name that he's a fan of the right-wing supreme court justice, say that pretty much says it all. He has some stupid opinion and argues with everyone. He writes page long diatribes with his "qualifications", so as to justify himself. He is the insane neighbor that makes you either move or fortify your house, say that when he snaps, he can't get into your house. After reading all the stupid and insane rantings he's littered this board with, he's a complete loon
John Roberts
9:01 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Yeah see you all give a shit about what people think of you..me I don't I say the shit no one wants to say..and this is a discussion section for discussion not dictatorship...right wing..lmao..just a label...see that's the problem people too caught up in the label...your an extremist..lmao just a label and you say this because YYOU do not agree with me...So the world is just supposed to think one way,be one way,ignore the other way of thinking?..here again we try to make an image of what the world is supposed to be and not what it is.....no my friend,fellow citizen..I am the person everyone comes to for help..legal help,money help,sorrows...why because I am as real as you can get,I help anyone I can..and all of your comment is just rambling..Actually go ate read my comments and see and tell me where I am wrong..All isee on here is people quit to say "that's crazy,not right,that's stupid" but ya know what I do not see? Any knowledge going agains what I write..knowledge not some ass just trying to discredit what I say..and am I posting too much for your mind to read?...then don't read it
Vance Johnson
8:19 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Late to the party, but perhaps the old guy did accidentally hit her with the car and she was so messed-up, he thought he'd put her down humanely.
Nancy Stanner
8:46 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Arguably there are 2 issues at play here. #One : if he had access to adequate HEALTHCARE and mental health services, Diane might still be alive. Current stats show that a vet commits suicide every day in our "Greatest Country in the World." #TWO is violence toward women. Notice there are two other stories in the Patch this week: the other old white guy who beat his wife to death with a hammer and the young white guy who put a knife in his girlfriend's heart. Don't forget the physician who molests his patients. It's no wonder that the number one cause of death of women is not cancer, AIDS, or car accidents: it's men.
John Roberts
9:06 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
But that's realism...people on the patch do not like when people say things like the truth..we're not supposed to think like this...we're supposed to scream out "get the pitch forks and rope and hang him" being real and making sense is not allowed on the patch...Were supposed to ignore that Vienam Vets are mostly jacked up...We have to wait until our troops come back from war to see,we're supposed to ignore the fact that Soldiers Guns are being taken when they get home because of the suicide rate by soldiers..we know it plays a part but that's being real..and if you read the other comments you will see your supposed to be a fake citizen..screaming out what government tells ya to..
irontrain
10:14 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Kind of scary. Not what one human being can do to another. That I've gotten used to, it's those of you commenting for more death. No facts just kill. For every sensible person trying to say calm down and let's learn the facts. Learn what happened so maybe it can be prevented from happening again. For every one person being sensible their seems to be 10 who have a real blood-lust for more death. Kind of scary that these people may be my neighbors.