THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
On January 24, 2024, Lou Ann Saint Onge, formerly of Danville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to a charge of Second Degree Murder, and was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Second Degree Murder is punishable by a term of probation, or 4 to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Her prison term will be followed by one year of mandatory supervised release.
During the plea Circuit Judge Robert McIntire heard evidence establishing that on July 16, 2023, Ms. Saint Onge went to a bar with her longtime domestic partner, Michael Woestman, and after some time they got into an argument and left the bar. He left on foot and she in a car, and the argument continued. Eventually, after his final refusal to get into the car with her, “something snapped” in her mind and she intentionally drove into Mr. Woestman, striking and killing him.
An eyewitness called in to the police what they had seen, and Ms. Saint Onge was eventually taken into custody. She made a full confession, which was corroborated by a number of independent witnesses.
Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanks the Danville Police Department for their thorough investigation, and the many civilian witnesses for their cooperation. “The integrity of the cases prosecuted by my office is largely dependent on witnesses who are willing to come forward and tell the truth.”
