Deerfield Man Kidnapped, Assaulted, Murdered Wife: Indictment

WAUKEGAN, IL — A Lake County grand jury indicted a Deerfield man on charges he raped and murdered his wife inside their home last month. Gary A. Kamen, 55, intended to stab his 53-year-old wife Karyn to death after kidnapping her and holding her against her will on Sept. 20 at their home on Peachtree Lane, according to a nine-count indictment returned Wednesday.

Karyn Kamen, a substitute teacher in Deerfield District 109 schools, died at Highland Park Hospital the next day as a result of multiple knife wounds following surgical attempts to save her life. Prosecutors have said Gary Kamen, who was, until recently, a market strategist for his own financial services company, was read his Miranda rights before admitting to handcuffing his wife and holding her hostage while armed with a knife.

Kamen's indictment includes four counts of first-degree murder relating to the stabbing – intending to kill, knowing his actions could cause death, knowing there's a strong possibility of death, and while committing the forcible felony of kidnapping. It also includes two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Each murder charge carries a potential life sentence, while the other offenses carry mandatory minimums of six to 30 years in prison.

According to court filings, Kamen said he sexually assaulted his wife after their children left to go to school for the day. He told investigators he then blacked out after drinking whiskey and taking Ambien, the Daily Herald reported. After awakening to find his wife covered in blood, Kamen called the police around 3:40 p.m. to report he had fatally stabbed his wife, according to a filing from prosecutors seeking to have him held without bond. Investigators believe he stabbed her 15 times.

On a call to a family member while at the Deerfield Police Department, he reportedly said he had killed his wife during a "psychotic episode." The Lake County News-Sun reported investigators found several apparent suicide notes written by Kamen "at various times," a broken knife handle and a knife blade in a bedroom sink covered in blood.

Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper previously said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed Karen Kamen died as a result of numerous knife wounds. He said the precise number and location would not be disclosed pending the completion of the investigation. An investigation by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, which was called in by Deerfield police to assist, is awaiting subpoenaed materials and coroner's reports before it is finalized.

Karyn Kamen was remembered as a devoted mother and volunteer at her synagogue, Pioneer Press reported. A memorial fund was established at Congregation B'Nai Tikvah in Deerfield to support the Kamens' two children. (To donate online, note "Kamen Fund" in the field for tribute description.)

After initially being represented by a public defender, Gary Kamen has retained defense attorney James Schwarzbach. Schwarzbach told the Lake County News-Sun he had no immediate plans to motion for a lower bond and declined to comment until he reviews the police reports in the case.

Kamen's bail had initially been set at $10 million until prosecutors motioned for a no-bond order, arguing he was a threat to his family and the community at large. The move was unopposed by Kamen's public defender and so granted by a judge. Kamen is due back in court on Oct. 25 for an arraignment where he will have the opportunity to enter a plea to the nine charges in the indictment.

Earlier:

• No Bond For Deerfield Man Charged In Wife's Stabbing Death
• Deerfield Woman Dies After Stabbing, Husband Charged With Murder