Jason Karels: Illinois man who killed his 3 children after telling estranged wife 'if I can't have them neither can you' gets life in prison
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WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS: Jason Karels, a 36-year-old man from Round Lake Beach, Illinois, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of his three young children.
The sentencing took place on Friday, February 16, after Karels pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of first-degree murder.
Jason Karels leaves a note before drowning his 3 children
The horrifying incident occurred on June 13, 2022, when Karels, in a note to his estranged wife, expressed the sentiment, "If I can't have them, neither can you." The victims, 5-year-old Bryant Karels, 3-year-old Cassidy Karels, and 2-year-old Gideon Karels, were drowned by their father.
The gravity of the case was emphasized during the sentencing, with victim-impact statements from the children's mother, maternal grandmother, and aunt describing Karels as “a 'monster’ who destroyed many lives,” Yahoo reported.
Jason Karels' guilty but mentally ill plea
Guilty but mentally ill, a plea entered by Karels in December, implies that he acknowledges having a mental illness but is deemed to understand the difference between right and wrong.
The grim discovery unfolded when officers, dispatched to check on the children's welfare, found a note at Karels' home addressed to his estranged wife, saying, “If I can’t have them neither can you,” prosecutors said.
Jason Karels attempted suicide before fleeing crime scene
Karels' arrest took a dramatic turn as he led police on a chase, culminating in a crash at a highway bridge in Joliet. He was briefly hospitalized after the incident. First responders reported that the suspect admitted responsibility for his children's deaths and revealed that he had attempted to take his own life before fleeing.
Police discovered evidence of his self-harm attempts at his residence, further underscoring the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day. Despite sharing custody, Karels and his estranged wife did not live together at the time of the children's deaths.
