Disabled Man Dies After Attack, Wilmington Woman Arrested: WPD

WILMINGTON, IL — The Wilmington Police Department announced the arrest of 67-year-old Donna Reynolds in connection with the weekend death of her ex-brother-in-law, Sherrell "Bud" Martin. Authorities say the 71-year-old disabled Wilmington man was attacked inside his home in the 1200 block of Towpath Lane on Friday night.

Reynolds was charged with aggravated battery and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility where she is being held on $150,000 bail.

According to Wilmington police, officers responded to the house after Martin's niece and another woman found Martin in his chair bleeding from his head and face, prompting them to call 911.

"They also said that the victim's ex sister-in-law, Donna Reynolds had struck Martin with his walker, and was sitting in the garage of the residence," Wilmington police said. "Mr. Martin told officers that he and Reynolds had been arguing for a few days, and that out of nowhere, Reynolds started striking him in the face and then picked up Martins walker and starting hitting him with it."

Wilmington police said that "after Reynolds changed her story a few times regarding the events that led to Martins injuries, officers placed her in custody."

Later, officers in Wilmington got another call to Martin's house, reports show.

This time, the 71-year-old man had stopped breathing after returning home from the hospital. An ambulance from the Wilmington Fire Protection District rushed Martin to the AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he died at 2 a.m. Saturday.

"Due to Mr. Martin's death, the investigation continues pending results of a postmortem examination by the Will County Coroner's office," Wilmington police announced.