Man Accused Of Strangling Mother To Death To Appear In Court This Week

PARK CITY, IL — A son accused of strangling his mother to death in their Park City home earlier this month is expected to appear in court on Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Kenneth Rixie, 29, remains in custody at the Lake County Jail as court proceedings move forward in the first-degree murder case. He is next expected in court on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.

An argument between Rixie and his mother, Dorrie Gessler, turned violent on November 1.

Park City Police Department officers responded to the area of Koehmstedt Road and Eva Avenue at about 9:50 a.m. on November 1 after a concerned resident called to report a man who was screaming and crying in the middle of the street, according to a petition to detain filed by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

When police arrived, they found the man who was "visibly distraught." Police asked the man if he was OK and also why he was crying and screaming. The man told them he had killed his mother, according to court documents provided to Patch.

Police responded to the home and found a woman, who was later identified as Gessler, slumped over the couch. Emergency crews attempted life-saving measures and transported Gessler to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police interviewed Rixie, who said he got into a verbal argument with his mother earlier on November 1, according to court documents. He said he became angry after he tried to "have a normal conversation" with Gessler and she kept pointing her finger at him.

Rixie told police he then began choking her, stopping at one point but then continuing to strangle Gessler until she stopped breathing, according to prosecutors.

He then went outside to have cigarette, he told police.

Rixie, who has no criminal history, appeared for a detention hearing in Lake County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Rixie has been ordered to remain detained as court proceedings move forward, according to court records.

Rixie is next expected in court on November 20 for a preliminary hearing.