Slain Ex-Con’s Mom Must Move Out of Boyfriend’s Home By June 6

JOLIET, IL — The mother of an ex-convict gunned down the day he got out of prison must move out of her boyfriend’s home by June 6.

The boyfriend — 65-year-old James Francis Hess — faces murder charges for allegedly killing girlfriend Kathy Hofkamp’s 29-year-old son, Nathan Hofkamp, 29, just hours after he was released from Vienna Correctional Center.

Hofkamp was killed while celebrating his new-found freedom with his mother, Kathy Hofkamp, 51, and brother Kevin Hofkamp, 23, at Hess’ home outside Minooka last month.Hess was jailed on first-degree murder charges but was released after just three days in custody when he posted a $1 million bond.

Before he could get out, Kathy Hofkamp petitioned for and obtained a protective order against Hess. The order prohibits him from returning home, mandating he stay 1,000 feet away from his own house.

On Tuesday, Kathy Hofkamp appeared before Judge Elizabeth Down and said she had no source of income and nowhere to go.

Judge Dow asked an apparently emotional Kathy Hofkamp if she needed a “moment to pull yourself together for this hearing?” But the grieving mom pushed on and pleaded her case that she needed “at least a couple of months” to find a new place to live.

The judge was not convinced.

“Since you have no legal right to the house, I’m not sure how I can allow you to remain there,” she said, giving Kathy Hofkamp 28 days to clear out.

In addition to facing murder charges and effectively losing his home for nearly two months, Hess was slapped with a wrongful death lawsuit by the mother of Nathan Hofkamp’s daughter 10-year-old daughter, Natalie Hofkamp.

Kathy Hofkamp (left) and James Hess | images via Will County Sheriff's Department