Three teens face charges in Feb. 24 accident that left 58-year-old Rockford woman dead

Online Staff Report

Three teens have been arrested in connection with the Feb. 24 traffic accident that left 58-year-old Karen Shafer of Rockford dead.

A 16-year-old Rockford male faces charges of reckless homicide, aggravated DUI (drugs) involving death, aggravated DUI (drugs) involving great bodily harm (two counts), aggravated reckless driving (two counts), aggravated fleeing to elude (four counts), failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death (three counts), DUI (drugs), driving while license suspended, disobeyed traffic control signal (red light), improper traffic lane usage and improper turn at intersection.

The juvenile male was also on probation and a probation hold was placed on him.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, the juvenile male driver of the suspect vehicle was released from a local hospital. He was arrested and is being held at Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center.

The two passengers of the suspect vehicle were also released from the hospitals they were being treated at Feb. 26. Corey J. Butler, 17, and a 16-year-old male juvenile, both of Rockford, have been charged with probation violation.

Rockford police say the investigation is ongoing.

Shortly after 12:15 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, members of the Rockford Police Department were dispatched to Holy Family Church, 4401 Highcrest Road, in reference to subjects in the parking lot breaking into cars. While officers were responding to the call, a Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputy who was in the area located the possible suspects and a suspect vehicle in the parking lot of the church.

The suspects fled from the area in the suspect vehicle southbound on North Alpine Road. The suspect vehicle was involved in a traffic accident at the intersection of North Alpine and Brendenwood roads. Shafer, the driver of the other vehicle, was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m. An autopsy showed her cause of death was blunt trauma to her chest and abdomen.

Holy Family Church said in a statement: “Our hearts are broken by the tragic and unnecessary death of one of our beloved parishioners, Karen Shafer. We are coming together, as parish families always do, to do whatever we can to help Karen’s family in their time of grief and loss. We ask the community to join us in prayer for Karen, her family and all those who are innocent victims in our society.”

The three occupants of the suspect vehicle were also transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Posted Feb. 26, 2013