A 20-year-old St. Charles man is facing felony charges after a high-speed crash that killed an elderly Geneva couple last September. A Kane County grand jury on Friday indicted Charles T. Rodgers on two counts each of reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving, along with a felony possession-of-a-stolen-vehicle charge and a misdemeanor speeding count. Prosecutors say the September collision left an 85-year-old man and his 88-year-old wife dead after their car was struck head-on.
Prosecutors allege Rodgers was behind the wheel of a black BMW X3 that accelerated to 119 mph in the moments before impact and that he steered left instead of braking as a Toyota attempted to turn, sending the BMW into a wooded area where it caught fire, according to Shaw Local. Authorities later identified the couple in the Toyota as Dennis White, 85, and his wife, Ritsuko White, 88. Officials also say Rodgers had taken the BMW from the St. Charles Chrysler Dodge dealership where he worked and that he was not authorized to drive the vehicle. Two passengers riding in the BMW suffered fractures and injuries that are reflected in the aggravated reckless driving counts listed in the indictment.
Crash details and victims
The collision occurred around 1:40 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2025, at Bricher Road and Fisher Drive when a Toyota making a turn was struck by an eastbound BMW, according to earlier reporting by ABC7 Chicago. Firefighters extinguished flames on the BMW at the scene. First responders took one passenger to a hospital for treatment, while two others were treated on-site. The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team and the coroner's office investigated in the days following the crash.
Court proceedings
At a bond hearing this week, a judge denied prosecutors' request to keep Rodgers jailed while the case is pending, according to a county release. Instead, the court ordered him released on electronic home monitoring, with conditions that he not drive and that he have no contact with the surviving crash victims. Rodgers is scheduled to return to court on May 20.
What the charges carry
The possession-of-a-stolen-vehicle count is charged as a Class 2 felony under Illinois law, a category that generally carries a prison term of roughly three to seven years. Reckless homicide is typically prosecuted as a Class 3 felony, which is usually punishable by about two to five years in prison, according to state sentencing statutes cited by FindLaw and FindLaw. Actual sentences can vary depending on the case and judicial discretion.
Investigation and next steps
Prosecutors say the case stems from forensic work by Geneva police and county investigators, with the indictment following a review by a grand jury. Authorities and the prosecutor's office say the investigation remains active, and more details could surface as Rodgers' case moves through the court calendar.
