Chicago Man On Parole For Murder Found Guilty Of Strangling Ex

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — A Chicago man convicted of murder in a 1993 has been found guilty of strangling his former girlfriend to the point of unconsciousness in a separate 2018 case, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced Thursday. Michael Spivey, 48, of the 9300 block of Rhodes Avenue, was convicted of two counts of aggravated domestic battery, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. At the time of the strangling offense, the state's attorney's office said Spivey was on parole after completing a 45-year sentence for first degree murder out of Cook County in 1993.

According to a release, Spivey went to the Naperville home of his former girlfriend on March 24, 2018, after repeatedly calling her and rang the doorbell several times. When no one answered the door, Spivey went back to his car, took out a tire iron and went up to the victim’s vehicle in the driveway, officials said. According to a release, the victim opened her door, and Spivey forced his way in, saying he wanted to retrieve personal items from her home.The victim told him to leave, but Spivey walked throughout the house, got his personal items, walked toward the front door, and put the items down, the release said.

Spivey then turned to the victim who was right behind him, put his hands around her neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness, according to the state's attorney's office. When another occupant of the home heard the commotion, Spivey left the scene, officials said.

According to a release, Naperville Police were called and opened an investigation into the incident, leading them to Spivey. He has remained in custody since his bond hearing on April 12, 2018 on a $100,000 bond with 10 percent to apply.

“Domestic violence claims hundreds of thousands of victims throughout the country each and every year,” Berlin said, in a release from the state's attorney's office. “Thankfully, the other occupant of the home responded to the commotion causing Mr. Spivey to leave. This alone may have saved her life. What I find particularly egregious about this case is that the defendant was on parole for murder when he attacked his former girlfriend. I would like to thank the Naperville Police Department for their outstanding work on this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Lee Roupas and Dan Fawell for their efforts in preparing a strong case against Michael Spivey which led to today’s guilty verdict.”

Because of his history, the state's attorney's office said Spivey is eligible for Class X sentencing, which carries a penalty of up to thirty years to be served at 85 percent in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

His next court appearance is set for May 20.