Jurors in Will County deliberated for about seven hours Monday the case of an Orland Park man charged with reckless homicide in a 2017 car crash that killed a pregnant woman and her three young sons in Beecher.
The jury received the case of Sean Woulfe just after noon Monday after about 90 minutes of closing arguments from county prosecutors and Woulfe’s attorney. The judge sent them home for the night at 7 p.m. and they were to continue deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Woulfe, 30, is charged with reckless homicide in the July 24, 2017 crash at Corning Road and Yates Avenue in Beecher; he was indicted on 16 counts in 2017 and the ruling upheld two years later.
Lindsey Schmidt, who was pregnant at the time, and her 19-month-old son, Kaleb, were pronounced dead at the scene. Four-year-old Weston and 6-year-old Owen died at Comer’s Children Hospital in Chicago days later.
Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Tuminello said Woulfe’s actions that day support their argument he was driving recklessly, such as driving 83 and 84 mph in the seconds leading up to collision, not wearing a seat belt and not stopping at a stop sign.
Tuminello argued that driving at such speeds meant a greater risk of something bad happening and that “you are increasing the risk (to yourself), you are increasing the risk to other people.”
Car data recorder information presented in the trial showed Schmidt was driving her Subaru Outback 62 mph at the time of the crash. Information also showed brakes in Woulfe’s car were not applied until about one second before the crash and cruise control possibly being used. During testimony, one person recalled Woulfe saying he had cruise control on.
Tuminello argued Woulfe’s involvement met three criteria needed to prove reckless homicide: that he caused the unintentional death of the family; he drove his Chevrolet S-10 recklessly; and that he drove in a manner that caused bodily harm or death.
“His actions that day were reckless,” he said.
Woulfe’s attorney, George Lenard, said there was “built-in” reasonable doubt and did not prove reckless homicide. He reminded jurors Woulfe was not using his cellphone while driving, had no alcohol or drugs in his system, was unfamiliar with the area, was insured and was concerned about the Schmidts’ well-being following the crash.
The testimony of eyewitness Norberto Navarro helps his argument on multiple fronts, Lenard said.
Navarro, who worked at a nearby farm that day, testified he sped at times while driving, Lenard reminded jurors. People drive over the speed limit and is not exclusive to Woulfe, he said.
“People speed, that’s the way it is,” he said.
During testimony, Navarro said Schmidt waved at him just before hitting Woulfe’s car. Lenard said that short moment could have been a distraction.
He said jurors should question why two other passengers in the John Deere Gator utility vehicle Navarro was in didn’t testify.
“Bring the other people in. It’s their burden, not ours” to prove if Woulfe is guilty, Lenard said.
He questioned the inconsistencies regarding the cruise control feature in Woulfe’s car. Pictures shown to jurors did not clearly show if the switch was in an on or off mode.
He also questioned how prosecutors focused on Woulfe’s use of his brakes.
“The state wants to say it was a little tap … we don’t know,” he said.
Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Capelli said people do drive over the speed limit, but that Woulfe was driving almost 30 mph over the limit.
Woulfe, who is free on bond while awaiting trial, did not testify.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
