A beloved nurse and mom was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by her ex-boyfriend during an hours-long, recorded attack in their Illinois home — which came days after another domestic assault that left her in the hospital.
Police were called to a home in Schaumburg, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, on April 30 after a 911 caller said they hadn’t heard from Katherine “Kat” Torbick, 43, throughout the day, Schaumburg police said.
Officers were aware of a recent domestic violence incident at the location and forced entry, finding Torbick’s body with “multiple signs of trauma,” police said.
Her ex, 56-year-old Kevin Motykie, was found in the garage and arrested on an outstanding warrant for a previous domestic battery case involving Torbick. He was later charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault, authorities said.
During Motykie’s detention hearing on Friday, prosecutors said he and Torbick had been dating for about 10 years, but had broken up earlier this year. Torbick started dating someone else in April, according to CBS News.
When Motykie was taken into custody, police found an audio recording device in his pocket. The device contained a seven-hour-long tape that began at 2 a.m. and lasted until 9:24 a.m. that day, authorities said.
Prosecutors said the couple could be heard arguing on the recording, with Torbick screaming at Motykie to get off her and not put handcuffs on her. Prosecutors said Motykie repeatedly accused Torbick of cheating, which she denied while screaming at him to stop hurting her.
On the recording, investigators could hear Motykie handcuffing Torbick and repeatedly sexually assaulting, beating, binding and later strangling her to death, prosecutors said.
Torbick tried to escape, according to court documents, but was bound with duct tape.
Prosecutors said that Motykie told Torbick he would murder her and refused to let her go, WGN-TV reported.
Motykie allegedly said, “I gotta go hang myself,” and “This will take 30 seconds, and think of somewhere happy,” as he carried out the killing, prosecutors said.
He also appeared highly intoxicated and was slurring his words upon his arrest, authorities said. He later admitted to taking prescription medication lorazepam and hydrocodone.
Before her death, Torbick gave a videotaped statement to police saying that she feared Motykie was going to kill her. She filed a felony complaint against him on March 12.
Torbick had also been hospitalized after she said Motykie attacked her just days before her death, according to CBS.
Friends and colleagues of Torbick, who went by the nickname “Kat,” said she always put others first, during her career as a gastroenterology nurse and as a mom to a 12-year-old son.
Torbick worked as a GI nurse at a nearby hospital for over 21 years, and as a registered nurse at a medical spa, according to WGN.
Fox River MedSpa, where Torbick worked, said in an Instagram post that it was “heartbroken” by the loss.
“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 post read.
“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,” the post added. “She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story.”
The MedSpa says it will be hosting a donation-based domestic violence course in her name, with the proceeds going to Refue for Women, an organization supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
