A murderous lover has been jailed for 50 years after killing her police officer boyfriend over the course of four months - by poisoning him with eye drops.
Marcy Oglesby, 53, was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery against 71-year-old Richard "Rick" Young - a former Maquon Police Department Chief - who attorneys said had "loved her and cared for her for nearly 30 years".
After his eventual death in November 2021, Oglesby hid Young's body in a storage unit in Maquon, Illinois across the street from their shared home but his remains were not located until a year later, in October 2022.
The long-time police chief was poisoned over several months and eventually died on Nov. 1, 2021, after his health had steadily declined, authorities said.
During her trial in June, Knox State County prosecutors said Oglesby had begun lacing Young's food and drink with tetrahydrozoline - a chemical found in eye drops and other medications.
Despite his badly decomposed body, an autopsy was able to confirm he died from tetrahydrozoline poisoning.
Knox County State's Attorney Ashley Worby said: "She killed a man who loved her and who cared for her for nearly 30 years, and she didn't just kill him. She poisoned him and watched him suffer."
Despite her conviction, Oglesby maintains she didn't harm her partner and claims she stayed with him against her will for decades until his death.
At the trial hearing, Oglesby insisted: "My allocution today will have to take a slightly different path because I respectfully disagree with the court's findings, and I will not be referencing a murder that did not happen.
"He didn't go into that box immediately. I put him back to bed and continued to talk to him for three days."
Friends of Young recalled the police chief's dedication to public service during the hearing.
Natalie Mason, a friend of Richard Young, said: "Rick was always there for everyone. It didn't matter if you were friend or foe. He stood watch over our community for many, many years, and he was a good man who deserved so much, who deserved more than what he got."
Oglesby was sentenced to 50 years but was also credited with the 326 days she spent in pre-trial detention.