93-year-old kills wife because he ‘couldn’t take it anymore,’ Illinois cops say

A 93-year-old man is accused of killing his 80-year-old wife he was planning on divorcing, Illinois authorities say.

James E. Pate was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cheryl Pate, who the Peoria County Coroner’s Office said was stabbed to death on Sept. 2 in Pekin.

Authorities said Cheryl Pate, 80, was found lying in a private driveway with a cut to her neck, according to court documents obtained by the Peoria Journal Star.

She was not breathing and did not have a pulse, according to the coroner, who said the wife died in a hospital from “unsurvivable” multiple sharp force injuries.

James Pate was discovered with a “significant amount of blood on him,” and admitted to cutting his wife’s throat, authorities said in the affidavit of probable cause. Officers found the knife used in the attack in woods near the driveway.

During an interview with police, the 93-year-old said he was planning on divorcing his wife, according to the court documents. He said the fatal stabbing happened after they got into an argument in the car.

“James stated that Cheryl had lunged toward him as if to scratch his face, and that he pushed her away and struck her,” authorities said. “James stated that he then pulled a knife out of the center console and cut Cheryl’s throat.”

He described himself as having a “lot of pent up anger,” and told officers he stabbed his wife because he “couldn’t take it anymore,” according to the court documents.

Pekin is about a 170-mile drive southwest from Chicago.

This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM with the headline "93-year-old kills wife because he ‘couldn’t take it anymore,’ Illinois cops say."