WCSO Press Releases

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.

This morning, Will County Sheriff's deputies visited University of Chicago, Comer's Children's Hospital, and have reported that the two children, ages 4 and 6, that were involved in the fatal accident yesterday, remain in critical condition.  The 6 year old was placed into a medically induced coma; both of them are on life-support.  

 The 25 year old man who was driving the pick-up truck is currently being treated for a large laceration to his arm.    Yesterday, he was transported to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn to undergo minor reconstruction surgery.    He is listed in stable condition.   Deputies have spoken to the driver and have stated that he is fully cooperating with them.  Charges are pending.  Traffic deputies continue to investigate the fatal crash and when all information has been completed charges most likely will be filed.  

The Sheriff's Office would also like to confirm that the mother, Lindsey Schmidt, was pregnant at the time of her death.  She was taking her children to a nearby Bible Camp when the accident occurred.  

We continue our prayers for the family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic situation.  -end- 

Deputies were called to Yates and Corning Road at 8:38am this morning for a two-vehicle accident.  Beecher Fire and Peotone Fire were on the scene and advised deputies that the female driver (age 29) of a 2014 Subaru Outback was deceased.  The woman was traveling with her three sons at the time of the accident.  One of the sons, 2 years of age, was also pronounced deceased at the scene.  The other two boys, ages 4 and 6, were transported to St. Margarets Hospital in Indiana and were in critical condition.  

Initial investigation indicates that a 2002 Chevy S10 pickup was traveling eastbound on Corning Road and failed to stop at the stop sign.  The male pickup driver entered the intersection and struck the Subaru on the driver's side and caused her vehicle to go off the roadway into a field.  The Subaru had been traveling northbound on Yates Avenue; she did not have a stop sign. 

The driver of the truck was transported to St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.  Initial reports indicate that he suffered from minor injuries.  No charges have been filed at this time.  The investigation remains open.  Deputies are still on the scene.  Roads are expected to be re-opened within the next hour or two.

The Sheriff's Office will not be releasing the names of the deceased.  The Will County Coroner's Office will release the names when appropriate.   

The Will County Sheriff's Office would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy and continued prayers to this family.   -end- 

The Will County Investigations Division is seeking help from the public in indentifying the deceased man that was found on June 21, 2017 in Green Garden Township.  A  Will County Highway Department employee advised the Sheriff's Office that while cutting grass in a ditch, along Manhattan-Monee Road, he discovered a dead body.  

On June 22nd, the Will County Coroner performed an autopsy and advised Sheriff's detectives that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.  The body was badly decomposed and remains unidentified.  His ethnicity has not been determined.  

Sheriff's Detectives are continuing their investigation, however, as of this date they have no leads in their attempt in identifying the man.  The man was wearing Clarks brand sandals size 8.5, red shorts, a men's Burberry watch and a gold ring that is believed to depict St. Jude.  He was approximately 5'3" tall with a 32" waist.  

Three photos are attached of the watch and ring in hopes that someone will recognize the jewelry and be able to assist the Sheriff's Office with his identity.  

If anyone has information, please call 815-727-8574.  

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WANTED! - PUBLIC'S HELP IN LOCATING 'WANTED' INDIVIDUALS

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is pleased to announce the successful first year anniversary in the renovation of the Sheriff's Fugitive Warrant Division.  Prior to the revamping, the Warrant Division's main objective was basically a transport unit.  Sheriff's deputies were responsible for transporting individuals with active warrants from surrounding counties and bringing them to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.  With the newly instated changes, the division is now 'apprehension focused', in other words, actively seeking those individuals with outstanding warrants within Will County.

Within the past year, the success of the division is clear with 963 warrants being served.  Twenty-four of those offenders were charged with additional crimes at the scene.  Seized in those warrants was:  2.8 grams of Heroin, 7.7 grams of Mushrooms, 50 grams of Cocaine, 106.5 grams of Methamphetamine, and 498.2 grams of Cannabis.  In addition, deputies seized six illegal firearms, two vehicles, and over $11,000 USC.

In the Sheriff's Office tireless efforts to get offenders off the street, we have added three initiatives for the public to assist us in our continued success.  One of the ways the Sheriff's Office is getting the word out is the recently installed T.V. monitors inside the Will County Courthouse.  These monitors have a continuous scroll of 'Wanted' individuals.  As many as 2600 people, including employees, visit the courthouse daily.  It is our hope that tips in locating these individuals will be generated to the Sheriff's Office.

Another successful addition is the "Warrant of the Week" that is posted on the Will County Sheriff's Facebook page.  Since the start of these posts, several 'Wanted' individuals have been located and arrested, proving its success.

The most recent effort to get the word out to the public is our new website:  www.willcountywarrants.com.  This website is extremely informative.  The hope is that people will visit the site in order to identify those who have active warrants within their neighborhoods, at their jobs, or people they may know, and that they will provide us with tips or information that will be helpful in locating them.  This website provides users to search by name, address, and offenses.  It also provides users to search on maps by towns, municipal police department warrants, and you can even search yourself if you think you may have an outstanding warrant.  The site provides instructions on what you need to do to take care of the warrant or ask any question regarding it.

The Sheriff's Office is excited about the accomplishments in the first year of these changes.  But, with the public's help, we know that we can do an even better job at apprehending offenders.  No tip or piece of information is too small.  All information supplied by visitors to the www.willcountywarrants.com site can remain anonymous.

Take a few minutes..."Like" us on Facebook and visit our new website!

-end-

Will County Coroner, Patrick O'Neil, has notified the Will County Sheriff's Office that the deceased subject that was discovered yesterday, June 22nd, on Manhattan-Monee Road in Green Garden Township, is a male individual.  The cause of death is multiple gun shot wounds.  The body was badly decomposed and remains unidentified.  His ethnicity has not been determined.  He was wearing Clarks brand sandles size 8 1/2, red shorts, a men's Burberry watch on his left wrist and a gold ring on his right ring finger that is believed to depict St. Jude.  He is approximately   5' 3" tall with a 32" waist. 

Sheriff's detectives are actively investigating this case and are asking the public to contact the Sheriff's Office Investigations Division if anyone can help in identifying this man or has information pertaining to his murder.

Please call 815-727-8574 with any information.  -end-