Chicago Bears Fan Shot By His Wife 'Still Loves Denise Very Much': Former Nurse Learns Her Sentence

JOLIET, IL — Will County Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre agreed to sentence Denise O'Malley, 60, to six years at the Illinois Department of Corrections in connection with the near-fatal shooting of her husband John O'Malley at the family's home in the Plainfield area as he watched a Chicago Bears game on TV.

Following Monday's late morning plea and sentencing, Denise O'Malley was escorted away from Will County Courtroom 502 by sheriff's deputies. But she will only be in custody for two or three days, one of her lawyers, Jeff Tomczak, told Joliet Patch afterward.

Under Monday's plea bargain, Denise O'Malley pleaded guilty to a Class X felony of aggravated battery involving a gun. Her three other charges, including attempted murder, were dismissed by the Will County State's Attorney's Office under the plea agreement.

Denise O'Malley was given credit for the 73 days that she previously spent in the Will County Jail more than five years ago. She also received credit for the past 1,828 days she spent on home confinement and under electronic monitoring. Because of those factors, Tomczak explained that his client only needs to be sent to the women's prison in Logan for inmate processing and that she will return to Joliet, likely in two or three days.

"I will go along with the negotiations and Mrs. O'Malley, with a little bit of heavy heart, it is the holiday season," Judge Colon proclaimed. "We're all human, and life can get hard and hit us in a way we need help. Your relentless efforts to treat your mental health issues ... unfortunately, the love of your life had to bear the brunt of the serious breakdown of your mental health ... by the grace of God, he was kept alive."

Judge Colon told Denise O'Malley that based on her conduct and mental health treatment during these past five-plus years, "it appears you are taking this seriously."

A Will County prosecutor told the judge that John O'Malley in the living room of the couple's home on Sept. 13, 2020, when Denise approached him with her right hand behind her back. She then pointed a .357 loaded revolver at her husband and opened fire in their living room, shooting him once as he was watching the Chicago Bears game on their television.

Fleeing for his safety, he ran into their garage, trying to get out of the house as his wife fired the revolver two more times.

John O'Malley, a retired supervisor at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, suffered a total of two gunshot wounds, one to his left thigh and the other to his upper chest. He was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but he managed to make a remarkable recovery.

Before Judge Colon imposed her sentence, John O'Malley walked to the front of her courtroom and told the judge he still loved Denise very much, and he implored the judge not to send his wife to prison.

"I'm Denise's husband of 39 years," John O'Malley told the judge. "Denise is the love of my life. I forgive her. She's been a terrific mother and daughter."

He explained how he stood by her side throughout her education and professional development.

John O'Malley told the judge that Denise "is a kind-hearted soul" and that as a long-time Cook County police officer, "I worked around bad people my whole life. She's not a bad person."

He said they have a beautiful family with two grown children and how Denise was 100 percent responsible for their daughter's pursuit of her college degree at Lewis University.

"I can't and won't say a bad word about Denise," John O'Malley continued saying in his victim impact statement. "Yes, I'm sad" to be here, he said, adding, "it's been a long five years. What happened wasn't her. She does not belong in prison, your honor."

Back in September 2020, Denise O'Malley was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery following her arrest in September by the Joliet Police Department. She was 55 years old at the time of the shooting in their house in the 1900 block of Brighton Lane.

At the time of the shooting, she worked as a registered nurse at Edward Hospital in Naperville. She was subsequently freed from the Will County Jail in November 2020 after spending 2 1/2 months incarcerated facing a $750,000 bail.

Upon her release from the jail, Tomczak told Joliet Patch that she was now staying at the Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in-patient hospital in Naperville to undergo treatment for her mental illness.

After the shooting and following Denise O'Malley's release from custody, the O'Malleys separated and moved out of their house in the Plainfield area.

She has subsequently filed for divorce and now lives in Crest Hill.

During these past five-plus years, John O'Malley told Judge Colon, he's experienced his share of sadness when birthdays and holidays roll around. He pointed out that Denise's birthday is less than two weeks away. Denise was known for her cooking and for her laughter. She made several people in their neighborhood laugh all the time, her husband pointed out.

John O'Malley reminded the judge that nobody can change what happened that Sunday afternoon inside their living room back in September 2020, but he asked Judge Colon, "please, as a husband and father, our family needs Denise ... we all care for her."

The best gift Judge Colon can give to the O'Malley family "is healing." He and Denise first met 41 years ago, back in 1984, at the Cook County Probation Department.

"We have two beautiful children, and I support Denise 100 percent and I love her ... and your honor, she does not belong in prison. We need her in our life," John O'Malley remarked.

During Monday's sentencing, Denise O'Malley was represented by attorneys Jeff Tomczak and Anna Rose Bertani of the Tomczak Law Group. Tomczak clarified one question asked by the judge. He told her that his client had been admitted into a mental health facility for treatment in the weeks leading up to the shooting. However, the psychiatric hospital decided to order her discharge, according to Tomczak.

Before announcing the sentence, Judge Colon turned her attention to Denise O'Malley. "Is there anything you want to say?" the judge asked.

"Not at this time," Denise O'Malley responded.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

She Shot Her Husband During Chicago Bears Game: Joliet Woman's Case Nearing End?

Brighton Lane Shooting Victim John O'Malley: 'I Love Denise'

Joliet Attempted Murder Defendant Denise O'Malley Posts Bon