Beware of Mother inlaws - Printable Version

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Beware of Mother inlaws - Velvet - 08-06-2004

Mother-in-law runs over new bride


By Matt Hanley
STAFF WRITER


SANDWICH — Saturday, family and friends celebrated the marriage of Kim and Steve Stillwell, a Sheridan couple who had been dating for three years.

Sunday, the bride was rushed to Valley West Hospital after being run over by her new mother-in-law while on the way to her honeymoon.

"It's a horror story," said Kim Stillwell, the 19-year-old bride, who came home from the hospital Wednesday.

Kim's nightmare started Sunday morning, when she and her husband came to pick up the couple's two children before heading off on a honeymoon trip to Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee.

Kim Stillwell said her new husband and his mother, Georgia Stillwell, started arguing, and Georgia drove away. Kim realized Georgia still had the children's car seat and formula in the car. Kim chased her new mother-in-law in a friend's car and finally caught up with Georgia near Gledde Road and U.S. 34 in Sandwich.

Sandwich Police Chief Rick Olson confirmed that Kim and Georgia talked and, at some point, Georgia drove away as Kim was leaning through the driver's side window of the car.

Olson said the new bride was dragged behind the car for at least 25 yards, and "she somehow ended with her arm in the car and being hit by the car."

Kim's father put it more bluntly: "Push came to shove, and I guess Kim got run over," Kevin Jensen said.

After three days in the hospital, Kim Stillwell is now at home. She said she has six stitches in her chin, nerve damage and torn muscles in her arm, soft tissue damage in her foot and severe internal bleeding.

"It's just awful," she said. "I can't even hold my kids."

She's also concerned that, at this point, her mother-in-law has not been charged with a crime.

After the incident, Georgia Stillwell drove to the Kendall County Sheriff's Office to report the accident. She then was transferred to the custody of Sandwich police, who intended to charge her with aggravated battery.

When Sandwich asked for approval from the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office to charge Georgia with a felony, the office indicated it did not have enough evidence, so Georgia was released. Olson promised, however, that "there will be charges that stem from the incident."

For her part, Georgia said there is no way she intentionally would have injured the mother of her two grandchildren, whom she calls "the loves of her life."

"Even when the cops arrested me, I kept asking how she was doing," Stillwell said Wednesday. "They're making me sound like I did it on purpose. It was an accident."

Georgia said she feared for her safety while she was arguing with her son and just wanted to get away from everyone.

"I was crying and shaking pretty uncontrollably," Georgia said. "It was all so crazy. I keep seeing it over in my head.

"I think a lot of people think this is really a funny and crazy story, but this is not funny to me," Georgia said, crying. "This is sad. I'm in this nightmare that won't end. And I'm going to lose my family."

DeKalb Assistant State's Attorney Earl Peterson said the matter is under investigation, and until his office sees the police reports, he can't bring any charges.

He said his office then will have to determine if Georgia Stillwell intentionally drove away with Kim in the window. Olson said the charges could range from attempted murder to battery.

"It's kind of like umpiring," Olson said. "If you see the pitch, you can call it a ball or a strike. But if you're not there, then someone has to describe if it was a ball or a strike."

With emotions running high and several family members involved, it has taken some time to sort through the stories, Olson said.

Meanwhile, Jensen says he's on a crusade to get justice for his daughter.

"It's supposed to be the happiest day of her life, and it definitely wasn't," Jensen said. "The day was ruined."

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