A tragic incident unfolded in Chicago as a man pleaded guilty to the horrifying act of drowning his three young children.
According to the Associated Press (AP), 36-year-old Jason Karels entered a guilty but mentally ill plea to three charges of first-degree murder. The heart-wrenching crime took place on June 13, 2022, when Karels admitted to ending the lives of his children, 5-year-old Bryant, 3-year-old Cassidy, and 2-year-old Gideon. In light of his plea, Karels will face a life sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with no possibility of parole, as announced by Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart.
The discovery of this heinous act came to light when officers conducted a welfare check on the children, as reported by the AP. During their investigation, they stumbled upon a note at Karels' residence, intended for his estranged wife. The chilling message read, "If I can't have them neither can you."
The impact of this tragedy has reverberated throughout the community, leaving it devastated, according to Rinehart. As AP reported, he expressed hope that the resolution of Karels' guilty plea would provide some semblance of closure for the family. In the wake of this unimaginable loss, support will continue to be extended to them.
Karels' apprehension followed a police chase that ended in a crash, the AP added. Following the accident, he was briefly hospitalized, where he confessed to the first responders about his responsibility for his children's deaths and his subsequent attempt at self-harm.
At the time of the incident, Karels and his estranged wife were sharing custody of their children while living separately, according to the AP. As Karels awaits his sentencing, scheduled for February 16, 2024, a pre-sentence investigation has been ordered to gather further information about the case.
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