The special education teacher was brutally beaten to death by her husband for several days. Prosecutors told the judge that Michael Kazecki punched, kicked and struck his wife over the course of three days, from Aug. 4 to 6.
Rebecca died Tuesday at a hospital suffering blunt-force trauma injury after she was admitted under ‘suspicious circumstances’.
Her husband Michael Kazecki, who is a high school teacher in Joliet, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated domestic battery.
A first-degree murder charge was added Wednesday and a judge set his bail at $2million, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The battering started on Saturday August 4, according to prosecutors, who say that Michael hit and kicked his wife repeatedly after she tried to intervene as he was disciplining one of their three young children, aged five, nine, and 11.
On Tuesday he called police to say his wife was unconscious and suffered a medical issue. She never regained consciousness and was ‘brain dead’, according to prosecutors.
Dispatchers found her on the floor next to the couch.
‘It was determined that Michael and Rebecca had been having an argument over the weekend in reference to … things going on around the house and that it had turned violent, with Michael striking Rebecca several times … at various times throughout the weekend,’ Joliet police Deputy Chief Al Roechner said.
Medical experts reported to police that her injuries were consistent with a ‘severe beating’.
Kazecki wrote a letter taking responsibility for the beating, according to prosecutors, however his attorney intends to contest charges against him.
‘This was a beautiful mother who doesn’t deserve anything like this. [Detectives] did an awesome job getting the facts and keeping their composure,’ Chief Al Roechner said.

The organization is investigating neglect allegations involving Michael. They also ‘previously had contact with this family for allegations of neglect. The investigation was unfounded due to a lack of evidence.’
Rebecca was an eighth grade special education teacher at Gompers Junior High School where she worked for the past 14 years. Her husband Michael has taught seven and eighth grade language arts at Washington Junior High School for the past 10 years.
‘We’re deeply saddened by the death of Gompers teacher Rebecca Kazecki and extend our condolences and sympathies to the family at this most difficult time,’ Joliet Public Schools District 86 spokeswoman Sandy Zalewski said in a statement.
Michael Kazecki had no prior arrests or violent offenses, according to his lawyer.