Wilmette Shaken By Murder-Suicide

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 3, 2009 7:20PM

The town of Wilmette was shaken yesterday when a man killed his wife, her son, and then himself. While police have still not officially released the names of those involved, church and school officials have confirmed that Richard Wiley, 54, took the lives of his wife Kathryn Wiley-Motes and her son, Christopher Motes, 17, a senior at New Trier High School, before taking his own life. The bodies were discovered by police in the couples home which is next door to the church, the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette, where Wiley-Motes worked.

Sadly, it's not the first time Wiley had killed someone. In 1985, Wiley stabbed his then-wife to death (stabbing her 23 times) and in 1987 was sentenced to 30 years in prison; he was paroled in 2000 and "discharged from supervision" in 2003. Former Cook County Assistant State's Atty. James Morici remembered dealing with Wiley during that first case:

"I remember that case vividly," Morici said. "Oh, my God. ... Sometimes people have asked me over the years if there is anybody I was afraid would come after me. And the only one I could think of was Richard Wiley. I could picture him sitting in the penitentiary, biding his time."

During that first trial, Wiley had claimed to suffer from, "intermittent explosive disorder," or IED, which is, "a mental disturbance that is characterized by specific episodes of violent and aggressive behavior that may involve harm to others or destruction of property." The presiding judge, Cook County Judge Gino DiVito, dismissed the claim.

Rev. Sarah Sarchet Butter of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette told congregation members assembled for an impromptu candlelight service, "Our hearts are numb. We gather with questions unanswered. We gather with a deep, profound grief...Tonight is a night to be still." [Trib, S-T]

Update: According to this update from Chicago Breaking News, Wiley used a Civil War replica gun in the shootings and left behind a 40 page suicide note. New information also points to how Wiley got hold of a gun in the first place.

It appeared that Wiley had sawed off the barrel. Christopher Motes had a valid Firearm Owner Identification Card, police said. Police said Wiley left two suicide notes -- one inside the front door directing the reader to call Wilmette police, and a second one upstairs that was 40 pages long.

Deputy Chief Brian King called the longer note a "rambling dissertation" that was handwritten and showed "hints of remorse." Wiley indicated in the note that he had argued with his wife and killed her. He then shot Christopher.