McHenry Man Sentenced to Prison for Killing, 'Entombing' Girlfriend in Bedroom

A 65-year-old McHenry man has been sentenced to 49 years in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend and then leaving her rotting body in a room that he sealed off before he fled to Las Vegas.

A McHenry County jury found William J. Ross, 64, guilty of first-degree murder in July, and a McHenry County judge this past week ordered him to serve 49 years in prison for the murder, according to a McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office press release. Ross must serve 100 percent of the prison sentence.

Ross was convicted of shooting his girlfriend, Jacqueline Schaefer, in the head and back inside his home at 518 Country Club Road in McHenry. Schaefer’s body was found in November 2013 by a caretaker. Court documents revealed the 49-year-old woman was shot on Sept. 11, 2011, according to the Northwest Herald.

• Jury Finds McHenry Man Guilty of Killing Girlfriend, Sealing Her Body in Bedroom
  

After he killed Schaefer, prosecutors said Ross “entombed” her in a spare bedroom by sealing her body inside with caulk and duct tape. Ross’ DNA was discovered in a piece of latex glove that was recovered from the interior of the door after it was removed by police, according to the news release.

Ross fled McHenry County after the body was discovered. He was later arrested in Las Vegas and was extradited to McHenry County.

During his trial, prosecutors said Ross let beetles and maggots eat away at Schaefer’s flesh for several months before he bought supplies to seal the door to the woman’s room and then left town, according to the Daily Herald. In closing arguments, prosecutors argued Ross was the only person who could have killed Schaefer.

Ross’ defense attorney argued during the trial that Schaefer’s body was decomposed to the point that it was impossible to prove how, when or if she was shot and also questioned evidence presented at the trial that he labeled as “circumstantial” since there were no witnesses, blood spatter and no gun, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Prosecutors during the trial also said Ross was an abusive alcoholic who rented an upstairs unit and spare bedrooms to women whom he would control and abuse, according to the Northwest Herald. Ross was arrested twice in 2007 on domestic battery charges for allegations he attacked Schaefer. She was left with a bloody lip, bruised wrist and bruises on her neck.