Man Accused In Wife's Death Told 7 Different Stories: Prosecutors

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — Prosecutors claim an Elk Grove Village man who was charged in his wife's death more than a month ago told authorities at least seven different versions of how she was fatally hurt. Timothy J. Zondlo, 53, of the 900 block of Huntington Drive faces a count of involuntary manslaughter and was ordered held on $1 million bail Wednesday stemming from the death, according to the Daily Herald.

Zondlo had been the subject of a weekslong investigation into the death of his 46-year-old wife, Karyn, on Oct. 8, the report stated. She was breathing shallowly and half-conscious when she was discovered at around 2:50 p.m. that day on the living room floor of the couple's home, the report added.

Karyn Zondlo was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center, where she was treated for a stroke, the report stated. The next day, however, she died, and an autopsy by the Cook County medical examiner's office found that more tests would be needed to determine how a bleed on her brain had been caused, the report added.

When interviewed by investigators, Timothy Zondlo allegedly provided different accounts of how his wife was hurt, the report stated. His multiple version of events included variations on Karyn injuring her head following a sudden collapse or fall, the report added.

Prosecutors have accused Zondlo of pushing his wife off a small step-ladder and then hitting her on the head with his hand, the report stated. Although the Zondlos' sons — 15 and 11 — initially backed their dad's account of an accidental fall, the boys later recanted and claimed their father had told them to lie in order to cover up what actually had happened, as well as multiple instances of alleged abuse, the report added. The boys currently are staying with family members, according to the Herald.

Eventually, the medical examiner's office was able to determine that Karyn Zondlo's brain injury wasn't natural, the report stated. Neighbors, family members and other witnesses also were questioned by investigators, the report added.

Days following his wife's death, Timothy Zondlo created a GoFundMe page to help with expenses. The campaign raised just more than $1,300 of its $100,000 goal before being removed, the Herald reports.

More via the Daily Herald

Timothy J. Zondlo (Photo via Cook County Sheriff's Office)