Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend Had History of Violent, Criminal Activity in St. Charles

DEKALB, IL -- A former St. Charles East High School student who is accused of killing his girlfriend and hiding her body in a bedroom closet in DeKalb over the weekend had a history of violent behavior and criminal activity during his years living in St. Charles.

Michael Kulpin, 20, of DeKalb, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal beating and stabbing of his girlfriend, Moorea Desroches, 19, who police say is from the St. Charles area. Police found Desroches body in the bedroom closet of her apartment in DeKalb on Sunday night.

Police said a verbal argument between the couple late Friday and early Saturday turned violent and lead to beating and stabbing Desroches. Kulpin is being held on a $2 million bail in connection with the murder.

History of Violence, Crimes in St. Charles

This past weekend was not the first time police had to intervene after Desroches allegedly became the victim of Kulpin’s violence.

On March 17, 2015, Desroches and Kulpin were passengers in a vehicle that was headed from St. Charles to DeKalb when the couple began to argue, St. Charles Police Department Commander Jerry Gatlin said. That argument turned physical and Kulpin began striking Desroches in the head and upper body.

The vehicle pulled into a parking lot along Randall Road and Kulpin got out. Desroches window was open and Kulpin proceeded to hit her from outside the vehicle.

Desroches, who police described as non-combative during the domestic incident, was able to block a lot of Kulpin’s blows, Gatlin said. She was not seriously injured during the incident and did not have any physical evidence from the beating, police said. Police responded around 11 p.m. and Kulpin resisted arrest. There was a struggle before two officers eventually took him into custody.

Kulpin entered guilty pleas last July to misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and resisting arrest in connection to the March 2015 case. Kulpin was expected back in court next month for recently violating a condition of his probation in that case, according to online court records.

Kulpin had several run ins with the police over the years but no other arrests for domestic violence in St. Charles. He attended St. Charles East High School and lived for awhile on West Main Street before moving to Sycamore and then DeKalb. While in St. Charles, he was charged with criminal damage, aggravated battery and was one of several arrested for a residential burglary.

“It was just a blend of anger issues with an overall disregard for good behavior,” Gatlin said. “He was a challenge.”

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Desroches and Kulpin had a young child together and Moorea's Facebook profile picture shows the smiling couple with with their young son. Desroches' Facebook profile also listed the teen as being engaged and a former student at St. Charles North High School.

Police Find Desroches' Body in Closet

DeKalb Police discovered Moorea’s body while conducting a well-being check on the teen at her apartment at 906 Kimberly Drive in DeKalb on Sunday. Moorea’s mother called police after Moorea did not show up to work for a couple days. Moorea’s mom said she was also unable to get in touch with her daughter.

Police found Moorea’s body in a bedroom closet. Kulpin covered Moorea’s body with blankets and pillows, according to the Daily Chronicle. When police arrived at Moorea’s apartment, Kulpin was inside with two other individuals who police said have not been charged and who were not involved in the murder.

During their investigation, officers learned Kulpin and Moorea, who were dating, got into a verbal argument late Friday night. The argument continued into the early morning hours of Saturday. The verbal argument turned physical when Kulpin battered Moorea, police said. He continued to batter Moorea and stabbed her several times, and police said she died as a result of her injuries.

Police searched the apartment and turned up several items of “evidentiary value” from inside the apartment as well as a near a Dumpster.

Kulpin is being held at the DeKalb County Jail on a $2 million bond.

Domestic Violence: A Dangerous Cycle

Every 15 seconds, a woman in the United States is beaten and two in every five women murdered in the U.S. are killed by their husbands, according to Illinois State Police statistics on domestic violence. Here are some more statistics and facts to consider:

• Domestic violence results in more injuries that require medical attention than rape, accidents and muggings combined
• At least 95 percent of all cases of partner abuse involve a man beating a woman
• Woman abuse happens in all classes and races. It occurs at every level of income and education
• Violence in the home usually becomes more frequent and severe over time. The abuser’s apologies do not mean the violence will not occur again
• Children who grow up in violent homes come to believe that violence is normal. They come to believe that it is an acceptable way to control someone else. The majority of adult violent prisoners were raised in violent homes
• Violence is often part of a pattern of threats, insults, insane jealousy, explosive temper, and attempts to isolate and overpower the woman

The Illinois State Police provides tips on its website for victims of domestic abuse on how they can safely leave an abusive relationship and also offers tips on how to obtain an order of protection.

More via the Illinois State Police website and the Daily Chronicle