A quiet neighborhood in Pekin, Illinois, was shaken after a 93-year-old man allegedly killed his wife, just as the couple was planning to file for divorce. Police say James Pate attacked 80-year-old Cheryl Pate in their vehicle during a heated argument that turned deadly.
Argument Over Divorce Turns Violent
According to court documents, the couple was in their car on Tuesday when the fight erupted. James Pate later told investigators that he had years of “pent-up anger” and admitted he “couldn’t take it anymore.”
He claimed Cheryl lunged at him as if to scratch his face, and in response, he struck her. But the altercation escalated further when James allegedly pulled out a knife from the center console and cut her throat.
Police Discover Gruesome Scene
Pekin police responded to the 1800 block of South 14th Street, where they found the Pates’ vehicle parked in a driveway. Cheryl was discovered lying on the pavement, covered in blood with a deep neck wound.
James was also at the scene, with blood on him. He confessed to officers that he had cut Cheryl’s throat and told them he had thrown the knife into a nearby wooded area. Police recovered the weapon.
Victim Pronounced Dead at Hospital
Cheryl was rushed to a hospital in Peoria, but she did not survive. An autopsy later revealed she had suffered multiple sharp force injuries to the neck, described as “unsurvivable.”
Murder Charge Filed
James Pate has been charged with first-degree murder. Despite his advanced age, authorities say he will face prosecution. Investigators noted he had no prior history of violent crime before this shocking act.
This tragedy highlights how long-standing tension and unaddressed anger can spiral into violence, even late in life. What was meant to be the end of a troubled marriage ended instead in a fatal confrontation. James Pate now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, while the community mourns the loss of Cheryl Pate.
