Death of Deputy Who Died Nearly Year After Being Shot Ruled a Homicide

Photo credit: Dwight Maness’ obituary 

The manner of death for a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office deputy who died last month, nearly a year after he was shot while on duty in Holiday Hills, has been ruled a homicide, McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said Tuesday.

Deputy Dwight Maness died on Sept. 14 at Centegra Hospital - McHenry after experiencing a cardio-pulmonary arrest during a rehabilitation session at a local facility, Majewski said. An autopsy on Sept. 15 ruled the cause of death was due to a pulmonary embolus, or a blood clot to the lungs. That blood clot was caused by multiple gunshot wounds and has been ruled a homicide.

Maness was shot while responding with his partner, Deputy Khalia Satkiewicz, at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2014, for a well-being check in Holiday Hills. Scott Peters is currently serving a 135-year prison sentence on attempted murder charges for the shooting.

Peters shot at the officers through his front door with an AR-15 rifle. Maness was shot in the leg and back. As the two deputies sought cover, Peters ran after them and fired more shots.

State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi said Tuesday that murder charges will not be filed against Peters. Prosecutors decided not to file the murder charges since the earliest date Peters could be released is June 14, 2128. The minimum 114-year sentence means Peters would likely die in prison.

“He would have to survive to 166 -- which is not likely,” Bianchi said the Tuesday news release.

Bianchi made the decision not charge to Peters with murder after reviewing police reports after Maness’ death and his medical records. He met with Sheriff Bill Primm and members of the McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team as well as the coroner. He also met with Dwight’s widow, Sue Maness.

Bianchi said murder charges could be filed at any point in the future against Peters since there is no statue of limitations on murder.