Richard Stevenson, a 45-year-old accused of causing a fatal collision on the Fox River, has been charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide after prosecutors described his extensive criminal background spanning more than 20 years. The Saturday, July 25 crash killed 48-year-old Magdalena Jablonska, a U.S. Marine veteran who had moved to Chicago from Poland, according to her family.
Stevenson was employed in the equipment sales department at Stevenson Crane Company in Bolingbrook, a family-owned business that has since terminated him and released a statement emphasizing the incident had no connection to company operations. The firm extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
Authorities say Stevenson’s pontoon vessel struck the victims’ boat from behind at 80 mph in a slow zone in McHenry County, Illinois. Jablonska’s fiancé suffered critical injuries in the impact, and her dog was also harmed. Stevenson’s blood alcohol content measured nearly three times the legal limit, according to prosecutors.
Extensive Criminal Record Revealed
Court records reveal Stevenson faces two counts of aggravated DUI causing death and one count of reckless homicide. His prior convictions include two DUI offenses, three reckless driving offenses, three counts of fleeing and eluding police, and four misdemeanor speeding violations dating back more than two decades. Based on this pattern, prosecutors labeled him a “ticking time bomb” while arguing for his detention.
On the day of the collision, witnesses reported seeing Stevenson retrieve a “bucket of Fireball whisky bottles” and drink the alcohol while piloting the pontoon boat, according to prosecutors. They say he stopped at a bar where he drank two additional shots prior to the crash. Prosecutors characterized his outing as “alcohol-fueled” and said he sped through the recreational waterway.
After the crash, Stevenson told another witness he had been drinking and that his life was finished, prosecutors said. He stayed at the scene and was transported to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, where authorities say he refused blood tests as well as testing of his urine.
Victim Remembered as Selfless and Devoted
Jablonska’s sister, Michelle Macias, described the victim as someone who consistently placed others before herself. Macias said her sister was “the most selfless and kind person you would ever meet,” adding that she “never [did] anything for herself, always for everybody else.” Jablonska joined the Marines right after finishing high school and had a passion for dogs, frequently going to shelters to see the puppies, Macias said.
According to Macias, her sister consistently exceeded every expectation in her dedication to loved ones.
True to her lifelong commitment to animals, Jablonska’s relatives are now collecting funds for animals following her death. They have also voiced hope that Stevenson will face consequences to prevent further harm. The family is trusting the legal process, Macias explained, to “do right by her so nobody else gets hurt.”
Official Response and Ongoing Case
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a watercraft collision with injuries located at the 1800 block of Fernwood Lane on the Fox River. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police Department investigators subsequently took over and continued examining the case.
In a detailed Tuesday statement about the incident, Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg expressed his frustration and sadness regarding what he characterized as reckless and preventable behavior on the Fox River that resulted in a death and left another individual with life-threatening injuries. According to Idleburg, the victims had been using the area’s waterways for recreation when tragedy struck, and he extended sympathy to those affected while expressing hope for recovery of the surviving victim.
A judge ruled that Stevenson must remain in custody pending trial. His next court date is August 5, and he continues to be held in jail.
Officials have not provided further updates regarding how the injured fiancé is faring. Investigators continue to examine the incident as Stevenson’s next scheduled court appearance approaches.
