Autopsy: Wife was strangled

Lee County State’s Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller declined to say what charges Brian C. Sigler, 34, faces in the death of Yolanda M. Sigler, 34.

Her office and police still are collecting and analyzing evidence, she said Tuesday.

Sigler will be taken into custody once he’s released from KSB Hospital, where he is recovering from self-inflicted, life-threatening stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, police have said.

In the meantime, he is being guarded by two officers, Police Chief Danny Langloss said. He is alert and able to communicate, the chief said, declining to discuss any statements Sigler may have made regarding his wife’s death.

An autopsy conducted on Yolanda Sigler Tuesday determined that she died from “manual strangulation.” There also was some bruising on her legs that could be defensive wounds, he said.

As a matter of routine, toxicology reports from the autopsy were sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab and could be back in 3 or 4 weeks. Langloss declined to say whether drugs or alcohol may have been involved in the killing.

Police don’t yet have a time of death; when her body was found around 2:40 p.m., she had been dead at least several hours, they suspect.

The couple, who both worked at Crest Foods in Ashton, were married for 15 years but were starting divorce proceedings and had discussed one of them moving out, Langloss said. 

The Siglers’ 10-year-old son called 911 at 2:26 p.m. Sunday. Police found Sigler in a second-floor bathtub with a knife, and his wife in the living room moments later. They think the boy, who is now with relatives, slept through the incident, Langloss said.

Police still are talking with family, friends, and co-workers to “build their lives” and determine what led to the killing, the chief said.