Belleville man charged with DUI after running over, killing wife, sheriff says
A man who lives near Belleville ran over and killed his wife in their driveway early Saturday morning, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office said.
Jonathan E. Whitwell, 36, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death after he ran over Stephanie M. Whitwell, 36, who was lying down in the driveway of the couple’s home, the sheriff’s office said.
Additional charges including reckless homicide are pending toxicology results and a presentation to the grand jury.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Whitwells had been out for the night and had just been dropped off at their house after taking a ride-sharing service. Stephanie Whitwell apparently laid down in the driveway while her husband went inside the house. After a short period of time, when Jonathan Whitwell could not find his wife, he left again in his 2004 GMC pickup truck.
He initially missed her as he backed out of the driveway, but ran over her when he returned, the sheriff’s office said. Stephanie Whitwell was then found in the driveway with severe injuries. She was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital.
“They were doing the right thing in that they (initially) weren’t driving,” said Capt. Bruce Fleshren, chief of investigations for the sheriff’s office. “It shows that in any situation, when you get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, which we believed played a large factor in this event, anything bad that will, can go wrong.”
Fleshren added that it was raining when Jonathan Whitwell ran over his wife, but whether that played a role in impairing his vision is unknown.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office said Whitwell, if convicted, faces three to 14 years in prison, but can only be sentenced with probation if the court finds “extraordinary circumstances.”
Jonathan Whitwell has only two prior traffic tickets, both for speeding according to the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk’s website. One of those tickets was dismissed.
“There is no indication that there were any domestic issues prior to this incident,” according to the sheriff’s news release. “It appears to be an alcohol related tragedy for this family.”
Jonathan Whitwell was released from the jail on a $50,000 bond.
This story was originally published May 6, 2019 at 12:56 PM.
