A beloved Illinois nurse was found dead after a welfare check, but the discovery of a 7-hour recording has unmasked a horrific ordeal

Kevin Motykie, faces charges for first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault following the death of his former girlfriend, Katherine Torbick. Police arrested Motykie in the garage of the home he previously shared with Torbick in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg. According to New York Post, authorities discovered the body of the 43-year-old nurse after responding to a welfare check when a caller reported not hearing from her.

This case is particularly disturbing because police found a digital recording device on Motykie that contained an audio file lasting over seven hours. According to court proceedings, the recording captures the entire ordeal, including Torbick being bound, beaten, and sexually assaulted. Prosecutors noted that the audio reveals the pair arguing, with Torbick begging Motykie to stop and asking him not to put handcuffs on her.

Motykie allegedly spent the time berating her about cheating while continuing the assault. The audio tracks a horrific timeline of abuse, including moments where Motykie used duct tape to restrict her and repeatedly hit her. Prosecutors stated that Motykie told Torbick he would murder her and refused to let her go. Throughout the seven hours, he allegedly choked her multiple times.

A seven-hour audio tape recorded her final breaths

The final four minutes of the recording capture the moments he strangled her for the last time. During this final act, he was heard saying, “I gotta go hang myself,” and “This will take 30 seconds, and think of somewhere happy.” When police arrived at the scene, they found Motykie in the garage. Officers reported that he appeared highly intoxicated and was slurring his speech. Later, he allegedly admitted to taking lorazepam and hydrocodone.

Beyond the murder and sexual assault charges, Motykie was also arrested on an outstanding warrant related to a previous domestic battery case involving Torbick. The history between the two is extensive. They had been dating for 10 years and lived together before breaking up earlier this year. Torbick had recently started seeing someone else. Motykie has a documented history of domestic violence allegations.

In mid-March, he was accused of choking Torbick at their home, hitting her, and attempting to gouge out her eyeballs. During that previous incident, he allegedly held her at knifepoint and threatened to take his own life before she was able to escape to a neighbor’s house. Torbick was a dedicated professional who worked as a gastroenterology nurse for over two decades at a nearby hospital. She also served as a registered nurse at a medical spa.

Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin shared a statement remembering her as a loving mother who cared deeply for her clients. The team at the spa noted, “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 loved being part of this team, and we loved having her here. She made an impact that will not be forgotten with both clients and teammates.”

The staff at the spa added, “Our hearts are with her family, especially her son, during this unimaginable time. We are holding them in our thoughts and sending all the strength and support we can. She mattered. She was valued. This tragic outcome underscores how domestic disputes have a high tendency to become fatal, especially when past physical abuse remains unaddressed.

And she will always be part of our story.” Motykie is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on May 29.