Lisle man facing murder charges in fatal drunk driving boat crash on Fox River

A Lisle man is facing murder and a litany of other charges in connection with a fatal drunk boating crash last month on the Fox River, according to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office.

Richard Stevenson, 45, is charged with first-degree murder and reckless homicide as well as four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and four counts of operating a Watercraft Under the Influence, according to court records.

He pleaded not guilty to a number of those charges in court Friday, including felony murder and aggravated driving under the influence as part of a nine-count indictment.

Magdalena Jablonska, a 48-year-old Des Plaines woman, was on the river with her fiance, Alan Telmini, and their dog July 25 when they were hit by a speeding boat driven by Stevenson while in a “no wake zone” in suburban McHenry.

Jablonska was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the McHenry County Coroner’s Office. Telmini was injured and was taken to a nearby hospital. Sasha, the couple’s dog, was uninjured.

Stevenson, whose blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, was found near the shoreline where his pontoon had come to rest, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office said. He was arrested and initially charged with one count of reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated DUI causing death.

Jablonska’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Stevenson last week.

The crash is still under investigation by the State Conservation Police with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Stevenson is due in court again Sept. 23.