Richard Stevenson, 45, is being held without pretrial release after a high‑speed boating crash on Illinois' Fox River that decapitated a passenger, court documents say. He faces aggravated DUI and reckless homicide charges after a medical draw showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20. Prosecutors allege Stevenson drove about 80 mph into a no‑wake zone, overtook another vessel and struck it; the victim is identified only as M.J. Stevenson is due back in court on Aug. 5.
Man Held Without Release After High-Speed Fox River Boating Crash That Decapitated Passenger
Man held without release after boating accident leaves victim decapitated
Richard Stevenson, 45, is being held without the possibility of pretrial release following a Saturday boating collision on Illinois' Fox River that left a passenger dead, court documents show. Stevenson faces multiple charges, including aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District Fire Chief via Facebook - PHOTO: Members of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District utilize side-scan sonar and conduct in-water search operations, in this photo released on July 26, 2026.
According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, a witness told responding officers that Stevenson’s boat was running "at full throttle" as it entered a posted no‑wake zone and "collided with vessel 2, resulting in the decapitation of a female passenger on the second watercraft." Court filings identify the victim only by the initials M.J.
McHenry County State's Attorney's Office - PHOTO: In this booking photo, Richard Stevenson is shown.
Authorities say Stevenson’s vessel overtook another boat and then struck timber along the river’s west bank. Stevenson remained at the scene and was later transported to a hospital. A medical blood draw registered Stevenson’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.20 — more than twice the Illinois legal driving limit of 0.08.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District Fire Chief via Facebook - PHOTO: Members of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District utilize side-scan sonar and conduct in-water search operations, in this photo released on July 26, 2026.
In a court order on Monday, Judge Cynthia Lamb wrote that releasing Stevenson before trial would pose a "real and present threat" to public safety. The judge cited prosecutors’ evidence that the defendant drove his vessel "at about 80 mph in a no‑wake zone," continued operating after being warned by a passenger, and that the boat went "over the top of another vessel and crashed."
Investigators have released images and details tied to their probe, including photographs of tattoos associated with the suspect, and the McHenry Township Fire Protection District deployed side‑scan sonar and in‑water search techniques during the response. Court records also show Stevenson has prior driving‑related offenses, including two previous DUI convictions, multiple reckless driving charges and several misdemeanor speeding citations.
Stevenson is scheduled to appear in McHenry County court on Aug. 5. An attorney for Stevenson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Key facts: Charges include aggravated DUI and reckless homicide; BAC 0.20; incident occurred in a no‑wake zone on the Fox River; victim identified as M.J.; defendant ordered held without release.
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