Victoria McManus | Homicide Watch Chicago

Daniel Kralik sentenced to 26 years for strangling his girlfriend, Victoria McManus, during heated argument in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:22:59 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Daniel Kralik | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for strangling his girlfriend, Victoria A. McManus, nearly three years ago at their Humboldt Park neighborhood apartment.

Daniel Kralik, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder Monday before Judge Stanley Sacks, according to Cook County court records.

Kralik strangled the 26-year-old McManus, his girlfriend of two years, on May 14, 2014, authorities said at the time.

The couple had been living together at her home in the 1200 block of North Rockwell Street for two months when they got into a fight because McManus had a relationship with another man, prosecutors said at Kralik's bond hearing.

Victoria McManus | Facebook

Kralik initially planned to move out and stay with friends, but the couple reconciled and continued living together, prosecutors said.

On the day of her murder, the couple got into another fight at the apartment, prosecutors said. McManus left while Kralik said he would stay at a friend’s place until he cooled off.

Instead, he stayed at the apartment and when McManus returned home, the couple got into another argument in her bedroom, prosecutors said. During the argument, Kralik strangled her with his hands.

A roommate heard the muffled sounds of an argument and a brief struggle, prosecutors said. Kralik called 911 and admitted he strangled McManus, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Sacks sentenced Kralik to 26 years in prison Monday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 1,066 days served in the Cook County Jail, and must serve three years of supervised release.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Five murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 19 May 2014 09:46:59 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five people were murdered throughout Chicago last week, including a 3-year-old girl killed during a possible home invasion.

The murders included at least two shootings, a beating and a strangulation.

The city went more than six full days without a fatal shooting -- the longest stretch of 2014. However, two people were shot to death over the weekend as 26 others wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened when a 3-year-old girl was killed in her home in the 3300 block of North Natchez Avenue about 8:30 p.m., authorities said. Her name was not yet being released.

Area North detectives were questioning a suspect in the murder in connection with a possible home invasion, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for later Monday to determine how she was killed.

On Saturday, 20-year-old Kendall Floyd was fatally shot by a gunman in a passing minivan in the 3400 block of West Madison Street about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Floyd, who lived on the block, was shot in the head and chest and died at Mount Sinai Hospital 25 minutes later, authorities said.

In the Austin neighborhood, 32-year-old Charles Lee was shot while driving in the 200 block of North Pine Avenue, authorities said. He then attempted to drive away, but crashed a short time later, police said.

Lee, of the 1700 block of North Lotus Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 5:04 p.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, 38-year-old Gabriel Rios was found beaten in an alley in the 5100 block of West Concord Place in the Austin neighborhood about 4:55 a.m., authorities said. Rios, of the 5300 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue, was dead at the scene.

The killings started in the Humboldt Park area when 31-year-old Daniel Kralik allegedly strangled girlfriend Victoria McManus at her apartment in the 1200 block of North Rockwell Street about 12:50 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Kralik and McManus, 26, had been dating for two years, but had recently gotten into fights about McManus starting a relationship with another man, prosecutors said. During the last fight, Kralik allegedly strangled McManus in her bedroom while her roommate was in anther room.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 129 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including six people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled at least eight of the homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Prosecutors: Victoria McManus found strangled in her Humboldt Park bedroom with pillow over her face

Susan Du — Thu, 15 May 2014 15:04:43 -0500

Daniel Kralik / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Daniel Kralik was ordered held on $1 million bond Thursday for allegedly strangling his girlfriend in her Humboldt Park apartment early Wednesday with her roommate in another room.

Kralik, 31, had been dating Victoria McManus for two years, and the couple had been living together for the past two months at her home in the 1200 block of North Rockwell Street, Assistant State's Attorney Alexandra Molesky said.

Two weeks ago, the couple got into a fight because McManus, 26, had a relationship with another man, Molesky said. Kralik initially planned to move out and stay with friends, but the couple reconciled and continued living together.

On Tuesday, the couple got into another fight at McManus' apartment, authorities said. McManus left her residence while Kralik stayed at friend's place until he "cooled off," Molesky said.

Instead, Kralik stayed at McManus' apartment and when she returned home the couple got into another argument in her bedroom, Molesky said. During the argument, Kralik allegedly strangled McManus with his hands.

The roommate heard the muffled sounds of an argument and a brief struggle, Molesky said.

Kralik called 911 and admitted that he strangled McManus after an argument, Molesky said. Police responded about 12:50 a.m. Wednesday and arrested Kralik, authorities said. McManus was declared dead at the scene.

McManus was found lying on her bed with an abrasion on her forehead and a pillow covering her face, Molesky said. An autopsy confirmed McManus died of strangulation, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Kralik appeared in court wearing Thursday a white plastic jumpsuit because his clothes were taken as evidence. Judge Adam Bourgeois ordered Kralik held on $1 million bond and issued a next court date of June 4.

Kralik, whose parents live in Montana, had been working at an aquarium and fish store and has no criminal history, his public defender said. Police listed his address as the 2200 block of West Iowa Street.

Daniel Kralik charged with murder for strangulation of Victoria McManus in Humboldt Park area

Michael Lansu — Wed, 14 May 2014 15:50:03 -0500

Daniel Kralik / Photo from Chicago Police

Daniel Kralik has been charged with murder for allegedly strangling his girlfriend during a domestic incident at her Humboldt Park neighborhood home.

Kralik, 31, is accused of killing Victoria A. McManus in her home in the 1200 block of North Rockwell Street, authorities said.

Kralik was arrested and charged after admitting he fatally injured the 26-year-old, police said. Authorities allege he strangled the woman with his hands during a domestic incident about 12:49 a.m. Wednesday.

McManus was pronounced dead at the scene 15 minutes later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy confirmed she died of strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide.

Police said Kralik was McManus' boyfriend.

Kralik, of the 2200 block of West Iowa Street, is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Thursday.