A beloved Illinois nurse and mother was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by her former longtime boyfriend during a recorded, hours-long attack, authorities said. Kevin Motykie, 56, has been charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault in connection with the death of Katherine Torbick, 43, a gastroenterology nurse and mother of a 12-year-old son.
Details of the Attack
Police were called to a home in Schaumburg, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, on April 30 after a 911 caller reported they had not heard from Torbick throughout the day. Officers, aware of a recent domestic violence incident at the location, forced entry and found Torbick's body with multiple signs of trauma. Motykie was found in the garage and arrested on an outstanding warrant for a previous domestic battery case involving Torbick.
During Motykie's detention hearing on Friday, prosecutors revealed that he and Torbick had been dating for about 10 years but broke up earlier this year. Torbick began dating someone else in April, according to CBS News. When Motykie was taken into custody, police found an audio recording device in his pocket containing a seven-hour tape that started at 2 a.m. and lasted until 9:24 a.m. that day.
Prosecutors said the couple could be heard arguing on the recording, with Torbick screaming at Motykie to get off her and not put handcuffs on her. Motykie repeatedly accused Torbick of cheating, which she denied while screaming at him to stop hurting her. Investigators heard Motykie handcuffing Torbick and repeatedly sexually assaulting, beating, binding, and later strangling her to death. Torbick tried to escape but was bound with duct tape. Motykie told Torbick he would murder her and refused to let her go, according to court documents. He allegedly said, "I gotta go hang myself," and "This will take 30 seconds, and think of somewhere happy," as he carried out the killing. Motykie appeared highly intoxicated and was slurring his words upon arrest, later admitting to taking prescription medications lorazepam and hydrocodone.
Victim's Fear and Previous Incident
Before her death, Torbick gave a videotaped statement to police saying she feared Motykie was going to kill her. She filed a felony complaint against him on March 12. Torbick had also been hospitalized after Motykie attacked her just days before her death, according to CBS.
Friends and colleagues described Torbick, who went by the nickname "Kat," as someone who always put others first. She worked as a GI nurse at a nearby hospital for over 21 years and as a registered nurse at a medical spa. Fox River MedSpa, where Torbick worked, expressed heartbreak in an Instagram post, stating, "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 made an impact that will not be forgotten." The post added, "Our hearts are with her family, especially her son, during this unimaginable time."
The MedSpa announced it will host a donation-based domestic violence course in Torbick's name, with proceeds going to Refue for Women, an organization supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
