Warrensburg man who killed his wife sentenced to 45 years in prison

MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - A man accused of killing his wife last year in Warrensburg has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after taking a partial plea deal.

Tabitha Lourash died Thanksgiving Eve 2022 inside her Warrensburg home. According to the Macon County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Durfee St. for a domestic violence incident. While deputies were still headed there, they learned multiple shots had been fired from inside the home.

When they arrived, they found 57-year-old Jeffrey Lourash in the living room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was still alive.

His wife, 41-year-old Tabitha Lourash, was in the kitchen. She had been shot multiple times and did not survive.

At his sentencing hearing Wednesday, Tabitha’s family member said, “There’s a special place in hell for you. And if you could do us all one favor, don't keep the devil waiting."

Tomorrow, June 1, would have been Tabitha's birthday. Her family said they plan to release blue balloons and eat cheesecake, which is a dessert she always had on her birthday.

Tabitha Lourash — Photo courtesy of family.

"I'm glad this is done. It's over. We all can move on," said Julie Weaver, Tabitha's mother.

After Wednesday's hearing WAND News spoke with members of Tabitha's family. They shared the 41-year-old mother of four was dedicated to her family. Her mother said she would drop anything for her kids.

"Every practice, every game, everything, she was there."

Tabitha was the backbone to her family. Sarah Lourash, Tabitha's daughter, remembered her mother was always taking photos.

"She was an amazing person and she was always smiling."

Jeffrey initially pleaded not guilty on Dec. 21.

Last month, he took a partial plea deal to count one of first-degree murder. The partial plea still alleges the offense of First-Degree Murder, but with no firearm enhancement. He faced between 20 to 60 years. He will have to serve 100 percent of his sentence.

During the coroner's inquest, the lead Macon County Sheriff's Department investigator told the jury that detectives found two firearms inside the home. One of the firearms was found by Tabitha, the other by Jeffrey.

The investigator detailed that Tabitha and Jeffrey, who was intoxicated, were in an argument. The investigator told the jury that part of audio from the couple's argument was recorded on Tabitha's phone that was placed inside a leather bag across her body.

The investigator said in the audio they could hear Jeffrey ask Tabitha if "they are coming" and "it's over, it's over". The audio recording captured Tabitha telling her husband "Don't do this." Then gunshots can be heard.

The investigator said that Tabitha had been shot 12 times, while Jeffrey had one gunshot wound to his chin, where the bullet exited his nose.

Two guns were found inside the house. Investigators said they determined that Tabitha had fired one round from the gun she had, but it did not hit Jeffrey.

The couple's four children were inside the house when the argument started. They had escaped the home through second story windows and ran to different neighbors' homes for help.

Deputies said they learned Jeffrey Lourash and his 17-year-old son had been in a physical argument which prompted the initial 911 call.

The teen ran upstairs, they said, before hearing gunshots coming from downstairs. He directed his younger siblings, ages 11, 13, and 15, to escape through the window.

On Nov. 28, 2022, Jeffrey was formally arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. He was officially booked into the Macon County Jail on Dec. 3, 2022.

Tabitha's family said of her, "She was a caring, loving mom."

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