Illinois – In a shocking and calculated act of violence in Illinois, a 38-year-old man, identified as David N., is behind bars after killing his 72-year-old mother, identified as Terrie N., then attempting to destroy evidence by turning her home into a potential firebomb. David has been charged with murder with intent to kill or injure and concealment of a homicidal death after law enforcement uncovered what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to stage an explosion following his mother’s murder.
According to a press release from the police department, the grim discovery was made on December 27, 2025, after concerned relatives requested a welfare check on Terrie, whom they had been unable to reach. Officers responded to her two-story residence and found her dead inside. The nature of her death immediately raised suspicions. Police said the scene pointed to violence, and early in their investigation, they identified her son as a person of interest.
Prosecutors said that David “struck Terrie about the face and placed plastic wrap over her nose and mouth,” a detail outlined in charging documents obtained by local media. Authorities believe he then attempted to cover up the killing in a calculated and dangerous way. With his mother dead inside the home, David turned on multiple unlit gas burners on the kitchen stove to release natural gas throughout the house. He then left a lit candle inside the residence—apparently hoping that the gas buildup would ignite and cause an explosion, thereby concealing the homicide under the guise of an accidental fire. The plan failed. Instead of an explosion, police arrived first, discovering the body and the tampered stove setup before any ignition occurred.
After identifying David as the suspect, authorities launched a manhunt to locate him. That same afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol spotted David’s gray vehicle traveling westbound on the highway. When troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, David fled, prompting a high-speed chase that ended when he drove onto the shoulder and crashed in a wooded area. He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation before being booked on a charge of felony fleeing. David was then transferred to the custody of the sheriff’s office, where he remains pending extradition back to Illinois. Authorities formally filed the murder and concealment charges on December 31, 2025.
Despite the detailed accusations, one major question still remains unanswered: the exact cause of Terrie’s death. Police Lt. P. Feldhake confirmed that while investigators suspect suffocation based on the plastic wrap used, the autopsy report has yet to determine a definitive cause. “Her cause of death is undetermined,” he stated, noting that they are still waiting for official findings from the medical examiner’s office.
Terrie’s death has left the community shaken. Known for her warm demeanor and years of service in the beauty industry, friends and clients have expressed grief and disbelief. Social media has been flooded with tributes to a woman described as generous, welcoming, and full of life. As the legal process moves forward, David faces serious charges that could lead to a lifetime in prison if convicted. For now, a family—and a community—is left searching for peace in the wake of a senseless and violent tragedy.
