Illinois Man Suspected of Killing Wife Leads Police on High-Speed Chase, Charged With Battery, Attempted Murder

An Illinois man believed to have killed his wife was charged on Tuesday in the case of a nine-hour standoff on Lake Shore Drive, according to the Chicago Tribune.

44-year-old University Park resident Joseph Felton has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapon, along with an aggravated fleeing of police charge, after law enforcement officials chased him from south suburban Harvey at high speeds.

Felton is currently hospitalized at the Northwestern Memorial medical facility, and did not make a court appearance, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Law enforcement officials announced that they were working with police in Henry County, Ga., where Sheray Latriest Felton's body was discovered earlier this month.

"We currently have detectives in Chicago to continue with the death investigation," a statement from the Henry County Sheriff's Office read. "The extradition process will begin once he is presented with the Chicago charges...At this time, we are building a case for prosecution."

A coroner announced on Monday that Sheray Felton died from blunt force trauma, along with lacerations "with an edged weapon," the Henry County sheriff's office told the Chicago Tribune.

Court documents indicated that Felton forced entry into his wife's home, used a razor to cut her multiple times on the face, neck, arms and back, then took her into his car and drove around the area for almost 12 hours before dropping her off at a hospital. He told medical officials that his wife had been mugged.

Sheray reportedly filed two orders of protection against her husband over the past three years. She said he was abusive and had threatened to kill her, along with her son, if she ever attempted to leave him.

Sheray moved to Georgia, but that didn't stop Felton from going after her there.

Following the murder, Felton reportedly returned to Chicago. Police went to a Harvey home where they thought Felton might be, and saw him sitting in a parked car at around 1 p.m. on Sunday.

When Felton spied the police officers coming toward him, he drove off, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph as he raced to Interstate 94.

Felton then intentionally crashed his car into the back of a Toyota Avalon, and tried to slam a Chicago police car. Officers then opened fire on the suspect's Chrysler.

Police said when they got Felton out of his vehicle using a flash-bang grenade, they noticed he'd slit both of his wrists.