A DuPage County jury has handed down a guilty verdict to a Glendale Heights man for the 2021 murder of Marek Krywko. Richard Goodwin, 59, was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated battery, wrapping up a case that has lingered in the courts for years. The jury deliberated for roughly sixteen hours after a four-day trial, finally reaching a unanimous decision.
According to details released by the DuPage County State's Attorney's office, on August 2, 2021, Hanover Park police were called to a residence on Pebblebeach Drive at around 7:47 p.m. Responding to the scene, they found two gunshot victims, one being Marek Krywko. Despite efforts to save Krywko, who had sustained a critical injury to his femoral artery, he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. While administering first aid, it was discovered that the other victim, a woman, suffered a gunshot wound to her thigh after handing Goodwin a bottle of water.
Goodwin, who had come to Krywko's residence to buy marijuana along with two females, shot Krywko and the woman in what was described as a drug deal gone wrong. Following an investigation into the shootings, Goodwin was arrested from his home on August 25, 2021, and has been in custody at the DuPage County Jail waiting for trial.
"This afternoon, after being presented with all the evidence, a jury found Richard Goodwin guilty of the senseless murder of Marek Krywko," State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said, expressing his thanks to the jury for rejecting Goodwin's claim of innocence while ensuring a fair trial. In the aftermath of a violence, now a chapter closes, with a measure of justice possibly being found for Marek's friends and relatives, as asserted by Berlin. The Hanover Park Police Department was acknowledged for their efforts, alongside support from multiple other departments in the investigation.
Goodwin's consequences for his actions are yet to be fully determined, as he awaits his next court date scheduled on March 4, 2025. On this date, post-trial motions will be addressed, and the pre-sentence report will be returned. While Goodwin remains behind bars, the community still mourns the loss of Marek Krywko.
