A 93-year-old Illinois man, James E. Pate, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he fatally stabbed his 80-year-old wife, Cheryl Pate, during a violent domestic dispute.
Police reports reveal that Cheryl was found lying in a driveway in Pekin on September 2 with a deep cut to her neck. She was rushed to a hospital but later died from what officials described as “unsurvivable” multiple sharp force injuries.
According to court documents, James admitted to cutting his wife’s throat after a heated argument inside their car. He told investigators he had “a lot of pent-up anger” and claimed the attack happened after Cheryl allegedly lunged at him. Officers later recovered the knife used in the killing from nearby woods.
The Peoria County Coroner confirmed that James was found with blood on his clothes at the scene. During questioning, he confessed to planning a divorce but said he “couldn’t take it anymore,” leading to the fatal outburst.
The shocking case has rocked the quiet city of Pekin, located about 170 miles southwest of Chicago, raising grim questions about domestic violence, even among elderly couples.
