Reckless Homicide Charges Announced In Fatal Beecher Crash
August 23
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announce the charging and arrest of Sean Woulfe, 25, of Beecher, (formerly of Manteno) on charges of Reckless Homicide in connection with the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Lindsey Schmidt and her children, Kaleb, Owen, and Weston on July 24, 2017.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office presented its case to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and charging.
Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt today signed a warrant for Woulfe’s arrest on 16 counts of Reckless Homicide. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Woulfe at his residence without incident this morning.
Woulfe was the driver of a 2002 Chevy S10 and was traveling eastbound on Corning Road in Beecher when he is alleged to have failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection at Yates Avenue. His car struck a 2014 Subaru Outback that Lindsey Schmidt was driving with her children.
The charges, filed today under multiple theories of the Reckless Homicide statute, allege Woulfe was speeding in excess of 20 mph over the 55 mph limit, that he disobeyed a stop sign, and that his reckless acts caused the deaths of Lindsey Schmidt and her three children. Two of the counts allege that he caused the death of Lindsey Schmidt’s unborn child.
All of the Reckless Homicide charges are Class 3 Felonies. Several counts make the defendant eligible for an extended term of up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
Woulfe is currently being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility. The judge set his bond on the arrest warrant at $1 million. The defendant must post 10 percent, or $100,000, to secure his release while awaiting trial.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial during which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.