A 56-year-old man from Illinois is facing severe charges after allegedly torturing and murdering his longtime girlfriend following a breakup. Kevin D. Motykie has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection with the death of 43-year-old Katherine D. Torbick.
Discovery of the Crime
On the evening of April 30, Schaumburg police responded to a welfare check at the residence of Motykie and Torbick on West Weathersfield Way. A concerned caller had reported being unable to reach Torbick, and police were aware of a recent domestic violence incident involving the couple. Motykie had a pending arrest warrant for aggravated domestic battery related to Torbick.
Upon forcing entry into the home, officers found Torbick’s body with multiple signs of trauma. Motykie was located in the garage and taken into custody without incident. A subsequent autopsy revealed that Torbick’s death was caused by strangulation, confirming that the death was a homicide.
Audio Recording of the Attack
In a disturbing turn, investigators found an audio recording device in Motykie’s pocket. The device contained a seven-hour recording that captured the entire deadly encounter, which began at 2 a.m. on the day of the murder.
The audio reportedly captured Torbick screaming and begging Motykie to stop as he beat, bound, and sexually assaulted her. She can be heard pleading with him not to put her in handcuffs as he accused her of infidelity.
The recording is said to have captured the final moments of Torbick’s life, with the last four minutes allegedly documenting her being strangled to death.
History of Abuse
Torbick had expressed fear for her life before the murder. She had created a videotaped statement for law enforcement, fearing Motykie would eventually kill her. Just a month prior, on March 12, she had filed a felony complaint against him, and days before her death, she was hospitalized after another violent attack by Motykie.
In that previous incident, Motykie allegedly beat and strangled Torbick, threatened her with a knife, and coerced her into writing a suicide note for her son.
Despite an arrest warrant being issued for Motykie, he was never apprehended and continued to live in the home with Torbick.
Community Reaction
Torbick was a well-liked employee at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin, where colleagues remembered her as a valued member of their team. The spa posted a tribute, noting that she brought “warmth, energy, and genuine care” to her workplace. The spa also emphasized that she “mattered” and would always be part of their story.
Motykie’s Background
Motykie has a history of domestic issues, having been the subject of three separate orders of protection taken out by different individuals.
He also faced a civil lawsuit from his brother, a California-based plastic surgeon, who accused him of stealing funds from a med spa business in Barrington. Torbick had testified in that case as Motykie’s girlfriend.
Legal Proceedings
Motykie is currently being held at the Cook County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to return to court later this month to face the charges against him.
