ROUND LAKE BEACH, IL – Jason Karels, a father from Illinois, was handed down a life sentence without parole on Friday after being found guilty of the murder of his three children in 2022. Karels had earlier entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill in December, as per information from the State’s Attorney’s Office of Lake County, Illinois.
During the court proceedings, family members of the children read out impact statements. They painted a picture of the victims as innocent young lives who definitely didn’t warrant the grim fate meted out by Karels.
With Judge Booras overseeing the case, the adjudicator accepted the sentencing agreement, referring to the actions of Karels as “despicable” and “sickening.”
According to the prosecuting team, Karels had drowned his three children, aged between 2 and 5 years, in June 2022. The mother discovered the lifeless bodies of the children at Karels’ residence in Round Lake Beach.
Police officials revealed that Karels had left a note at the scene, reading, “If I can’t have them, neither can you.”
Eric Kalata, heading the Domestic Violence Division, denounced Karels’ acts as “sinister,” “evil,” and “brutal.” Initially, Karels had entered a not guilty plea in the murder charges leveled against him, before he altered his plea.