Illinois – In a shocking case in Illinois, a 44-year-old Missouri man, identified as S. Stokes, who broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and fatally shot her new 32-year-old partner, identified as J. Hayes, has been convicted of first-degree murder, following a trial that exposed not only the violent act itself but also the volatile relationship and calculated steps that led to it. Stokes was found guilty this week by an Illinois jury for the killing of Hayes, whom he shot after catching him and his ex-girlfriend “in the act.” Alongside the murder conviction, Stokes was also found guilty of home invasion and possession of a stolen firearm.
The shooting occurred on November 7, 2023. That night, prosecutors said, Stokes made multiple calls to his ex-girlfriend before showing up at her house. The two had been in what prosecutors described as an “on-again, off-again” relationship, marked by instability and emotional volatility. When Stokes arrived at the home, he didn’t knock—he kicked the door open. Inside, he found exactly what he seemed to fear: his ex in bed with Hayes. What followed was swift, violent, and, as prosecutors argued, entirely premeditated action.
Stokes knew his ex kept a gun in her purse. Without hesitation, he retrieved the weapon, aimed it at Hayes—who tried to flee—and pulled the trigger multiple times. Hayes was struck and managed to get outside before collapsing. Police arrived to find him gravely wounded on the property. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries. A crucial piece of evidence in the trial came from Stokes himself. Just before opening fire, he accidentally called his ex-girlfriend again—leaving an open line that recorded the sound of the shooting and the confrontation that followed. According to Assistant State’s Attorney L. Yager, the recording caught Stokes continuing to argue and shout even twenty seconds after the final shots were fired. “He gets right up in her face,” Yager said, “and he’s yelling at her.”
This audio, played for the jury, painted a picture of rage and retaliation—not self-defense, as Stokes’ lawyers attempted to argue. The defense claimed that Hayes had a weapon of his own and that Stokes acted only to protect himself. But the jury saw through the story, convinced by the timeline, the forced entry, and the fact that Stokes used her firearm after breaking into her home. After the killing, Stokes didn’t stick around. He fled the state, heading to Texas. Along the way, investigators say he tossed the murder weapon into the river, attempting to erase what he had done. But he was soon captured in Texas and extradited to Illinois, where he faced trial.
Prosecutors built their case on more than just forensic evidence. They showed a clear pattern of possessive behavior, a deliberate invasion of his ex-girlfriend’s space, and a fatal decision made in a moment of jealous rage. His actions, they argued, were not those of a man defending himself—but of one exacting revenge. Stokes now awaits sentencing, with a date to be announced. What’s already certain, however, is that a moment of rage, triggered by a break-in and fueled by a stolen gun, has sealed his fate.
