Notorious drunkard decapitated woman after crashing boat he was sailing at 80mph, prosecutors say

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:48, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 21:50, 28 July 2026 An Illinois man who is no stranger to driving under the influence left a woman decapitated after he smashed his speeding 80mph boat into hers, prosecutors said.  Richard Stevenson, 45, was arrested on Saturday after his 31ft Southbay pontoon boat overtook a 20ft Crownline vessel on the Fox River in McHenry, about 59 miles outside of Chicago, the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office said. The victim, who died instantly, had been identified as Magdalena Joblonska, 48, the McHenry County Coroner's office told the Daily Mail.  The fatal crash took place around 2.30pm, about an hour and 45 minutes after Stevenson's boat was seen zooming back and forth in the water on a neighbor's security camera, ABC 7 reported.  The vessel then made its way back north, and nearly a minute later, the locals heard the collision, according to the outlet.  Stevenson had entered a no-wake zone before striking the back of the green boat and driving over Joblonska in the passenger's seat, leaving her decapitated, prosecutors said.  She was pronounced dead at the scene, and as of Monday, her remains were still missing, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner. Her husband, who has not been named, was in the same boat as her. He was taken to the hospital, and his condition remains unclear.  Magdalena Joblonska, 48, died on Saturday afternoon after her head was decapitated when a speeding boat, driven by Richard Stevenson, 45, overtook hers, prosecutors said The fatal crash took place around 2.30pm, about an hour and 45 minutes after Stevenson's boat was seen zooming back and forth in the water on a neighbor's security camera A witness found Stevenson after his boat washed up on a riverbank.  He was then taken to the hospital, where his blood alcohol level measured 0.20, which is 2.5 times the legal limit, according to prosecutors. Two others were aboard Stevenson's boat, but they fled the scene before emergency personnel arrived, prosecutors said.  They were later interviewed by police, telling them that Stevenson allegedly took multiple shots of Fireball whiskey that day.  Stevenson has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence- causing death and one count of reckless homicide.  He has also been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on three prior occasions, reckless driving on three prior occurrences, and he previously committed four misdemeanor speeding offenses, the prosecutor's office said.  'This man was a ticking timebomb and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River,' Deputy Chief Brian Miller said at Stevenson's detention hearing.  State's Attorney Randi L. Freese said he and his office are determined to pursue justice for Joblonska and her family.  Stevenson has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence- causing death and one count of reckless homicide. He has also been hit with charges related to previous drunk driving offenses 'Our rivers and lakes should be places where families can safely enjoy time together, not places where the reckless and impaired can turn a summer day into a tragedy.  'No family should have to endure the unimaginable loss suffered in this case. Our prayers go out to the victim’s family, and while nothing can undo the tragedy that occurred on the Fox River, our office is committed to pursuing justice for her, her loved ones, and our community,' she said.  Stevenson is believed to be connected to Stevenson Crane Service, a local, family-run business that offers crane and aerial material rentals, heavy hauling, and rigging services, public records showed.  Joblonska was a US Marine Corps veteran, according to her Facebook profile. She lived in Des Plaines, about 40 minutes away from the Fox River.  Her heartbroken family and friends have taken to social media with an outpouring of tributes for her.  Her brother, Michal Macias, posted an image on Facebook of a memorial he made in her honor.  'I don’t know who sent these flowers but thank you. They are beautiful. Also want to thank you who have checked in on me and my family,' he wrote as flowers, images of Joblonska, a prayer statue, and a candle filled the screen.    Joblonska was a US Marine Corps veteran, according to her Facebook profile. She lived in Des Plaines, about 40 minutes away from the Fox River Her brother, Michal Macias, shared his grief in Facebook posts after his sister's death He continued: 'Please keep my family in your prayers light a candle for Magdalena Maria Jabłońska, I’ll share funeral arrangements when we figure that out. I LOVE YOU my beautiful sister.'  Her other brother, Marcin M Jablonski, also shared a heartfelt tribute about her.  'I miss and will always love you. I always thought we were going to grow old together like brother and sister should. You always helped everyone no matter the cost. I will pray for you every day,' he posted on Facebook.  Stevenson is due back in court on August 5.  Jablonska died as a result of blunt force injuries to her head and body, the coroner's office said. Her official cause of death remains under investigation.  The Daily Mail contacted the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office for comment.