Illinois boater accused of deadly Fox River crash allegedly sped through no-wake zone before fatal collision, prosecutors say

The Illinois woman killed in last weekend’s catastrophic Fox River boat crash has been identified as 48-year-old Magdalena Jablonska of Des Plaines, as prosecutors continue to lay out new allegations about the moments leading up to the fatal collision.

According to the McHenry County Coroner’s Office, Jablonska suffered fatal blunt-force injuries after the crash on the Fox River near South Fernwood Lane in McHenry on Saturday. An autopsy was completed Tuesday.

Authorities have charged 45-year-old Richard Stevenson with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence. He remains in custody as the criminal case moves through the court system.

During a detention hearing, prosecutors alleged Stevenson was operating a 30-foot pontoon boat at speeds approaching 80 mph while under the influence of alcohol before entering a no-wake zone and crashing into a smaller Crownline boat carrying Jablonska and another passenger.

Prosecutors alleged the impact was so severe that Jablonska died at the scene, while the other occupant of the boat—identified by family members as her fiancé—was transported to the hospital with injuries.

As part of the court proceedings, prosecutors presented a detailed timeline of the afternoon’s events. They said surveillance cameras from a nearby riverside home captured the pontoon traveling south along the Fox River earlier in the day. Roughly an hour and 45 minutes later, the same boat was allegedly recorded heading back north. According to the homeowners, they heard a violent crash about a minute after the pontoon passed their property.

Another video recorded nearby, while a child played on a swing set, allegedly showed the pontoon speeding down the river nearly two hours before the collision.

Prosecutors also revealed new allegations about Stevenson’s actions before the crash. According to witness statements presented in court, two passengers aboard the pontoon told investigators Stevenson consumed multiple shots of Fireball whiskey throughout the day. One passenger allegedly told police the boat was traveling close to 80 mph immediately before the collision.

After the crash, Stevenson was taken to a hospital, where prosecutors said a court-ordered blood test measured his blood alcohol concentration at approximately 0.20—about two-and-a-half times Illinois’ legal driving limit. Prosecutors also alleged he initially refused both field sobriety testing and a blood draw before eventually complying.

In arguing that Stevenson should remain behind bars pending trial, prosecutors pointed to what they described as a lengthy history of driving-related offenses. Court records cited by prosecutors include multiple prior DUI arrests, reckless driving convictions, speeding violations and a previous charge involving fleeing police. They also noted a 2023 speeding conviction for driving more than 25 mph over the posted limit.

Stevenson’s attorney has not publicly responded to the latest allegations.

The case remains ongoing, and Stevenson is scheduled to appear in McHenry County court again on Aug. 5. Prosecutors’ allegations have not yet been proven in court, and Stevenson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.