Shaw, 45, a fugitive of justice, prosecutor said
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
When Sheree Ann Shaw failed to appear at a June 7 court appearance in Illinois, the Twin Lakes woman accused in a fatal crash became a fugitive of justice, according to a McHenry County prosecutor.
Shaw’s run ended when the U.S. Marshals service arrested her in Las Vegas June 22, courtesy of a local tip to Twin Lakes law enforcement.
“Ms. Shaw was arrested in Las Vegas (June 22) and is in custody,” McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs said. “The state’s attorney’s office will extradite her to Illinois for prosecution.”
Shaw, 45, allegedly was under the influence of heroin when she crashed her Ford Taurus into a Harley Davidson Road Glide, operated by Amy Thornton and her husband on North Richmond Road May 6.
Initially, Shaw faced a charge of driving without a valid license, but when Thornton died of injuries suffered in the wreck May 15, prosecutors added the felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence causing death on May 20.
After McHenry Police failed to locate Shaw in Twin Lakes, they sought help from the U.S. Marshals service, who took her into custody on May 26 and transported her to the Walworth County Jail in Elkhorn.
The next day, Shaw was released on a $2,500 bond, contingent on terms and conditions.
Terms and conditions included abstaining from alcohol, no possession of illegal drugs and not operate a motor vehicle, with a June 24 extradition hearing scheduled.
However, when she failed to appear at a June 7 hearing in McHenry County, authorities issued a warrant for her arrest.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Thornton’s family questioned Walworth County’s decision to free Shaw on a minimal bond, noting U.S. Marshals involvement in her May 26 arrest in Twin Lakes.
Combs declined to comment on the Walworth County decision in a phone interview June 24.
After more than two weeks of searching for Shaw, the trail turned cold, until a Twin Lakes resident tipped off authorities on her whereabouts June 21.
“While working on an unrelated investigation, our Detective Katie Hall, gained some information from someone in town that Ms. Shaw may be in Las Vegas,” Twin Lakes Police Chief Adam Grosz said.
According to the Twin Lakes police log, Hall attempted to serve Shaw a warrant at her 147 Lance Drive apartment.
Grosz said Hall referred the tip to McHenry County authorities.
“She passed that information on to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department. They followed up on it and found her,” Grosz added.
The following day, US Marshals discovered Shaw in Las Vegas, and took her into custody.
Citing Shaw’s history of dodging authorities in two states, Combs said he had doubts that Las Vegas officials will release her on bond.
“She is a fugitive of justice, so she won’t be let out on bond,” said Combs, who requested a Governor’s Warrant, ordering her return to Illinois within 30 days.
According to online court records, Shaw’s case in Walworth County has been closed, and ordered the revocation of her $2,500 cash bond along with $10,000 signature bond posted June 1.
Regardless, Combs said McHenry County authorities have every intention of getting Shaw directly from Las Vegas.
“I don’t know what Wisconsin is going to do, but we want her in Illinois,” Combs said.