Springfield man sentenced to life in prison for murder of Springfield couple

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Springfield man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Springfield couple in their home.

Mark N. Crites pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders of Gloria Norgaard, 69, and John Norgaard, 67. Circuit Judge John Madonia found him guilty, but mentally ill.

A verdict of guilty, but mentally ill means that the defendant was suffering mental illness — but not insanity — at the time they committed a crime. However, it does not mean they are relieved of their criminal responsibility. Crites will be held in a department of corrections building — not a mental health facility, but the state is required to provide him mental health treatment as necessary.

According to the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office, Judge Madonia heard from a family member of the Norgaards who said they "were good people and [Crites] took good people away from us."

Crites apologized to the Norgaard family.

In a release, State's Attorney John Milhiser said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of John and Gloria Norgaard. Hopefully, the convictions and sentence today helps to bring them closure. I want to thank the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department for their professional and thorough investigation into this tragic case."