A suburban Chicago man allegedly tortured and killed his girlfriend of many years — and recorded the entire thing.
Kevin D. Motykie, 56, is now charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault in the death of Katherine Torbick, 43, at their Schaumburg home.
What police found
Officers responded to a welfare check on April 30 around 9:20 p.m. after a caller said they couldn’t reach Torbick. When police forced entry, they found her body with multiple signs of trauma. Motykie was in the garage and taken into custody immediately.
But the critical evidence was in his pocket — a small audio recording device.
Seven hours of horror
Prosecutors say the device captured a seven-hour recording of the fatal encounter, starting at 2 a.m. the morning of her death.
On the recording, Torbick could reportedly be heard screaming at Motykie to get off her and begging him not to put her in handcuffs. Investigators say the audio captured Motykie accusing her of cheating while beating, binding, and repeatedly sexually assaulting her.
The Cook County Medical Examiner later ruled her death a homicide by strangulation. The final four minutes of the recording allegedly captured her being strangled to death.
She saw it coming
Torbick had reportedly feared for her life for months.
She had created a videotaped statement for law enforcement because she believed Motykie would kill her. On March 12, she filed a felony complaint against him. Days before her death, she was hospitalized after Motykie allegedly beat her, strangled her, threatened her with a knife, and forced her to write a suicide note addressed to her 12-year-old son.
An arrest warrant was issued — but Motykie was never picked up. He continued living in the home with Torbick.
Who she was
Torbick worked at Fox River MedSpa in Algonquin. Her colleagues remembered her as someone who “brought warmth, energy and genuine care” to everyone around her.
“She mattered. She was valued. And she will always be part of our story,” the spa wrote in a tribute.
Background on the accused
Motykie has a documented history of domestic violence. Three separate individuals had previously taken out orders of protection against him. He was also involved in a civil lawsuit with his brother, a California plastic surgeon, over alleged theft from a med spa business — a case in which Torbick had testified on his behalf.
Motykie is currently held without bond at Cook County Jail and is due back in court later this month.
