JOLIET, Ill., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A Joliet, Ill., man was arrested after spending nearly two days in a motel room with his girlfriend's corpse and using her debit card, police said.
Joliet Police Chief Michael Trafton said Derek Tanke, 47, was arrested on felony charges of concealment of death, unlawful use of a credit card and identity theft, the Joliet Herald-News reported.
Tanke called 911 Friday for an ambulance for Nancy A. Johnston, 54, and during questioning, told police he had found her dead that morning but later said she had been dead since Wednesday, Trafton said.
The chief said a pathologist told police the death of Johnston, who had numerous medical problems, was not a homicide.
Before he called 911, police said, Tanke took Johnston's debit card, withdrew money from an ATM and bought vodka and also used the card to pay for two more days at the hotel, Trafton said.
He said Tanke had been arrested by the Joliet Police Department six times on domestic battery charges in which Johnston was the victim.
Tanke told police he and Johnston had been in a physical altercation earlier in the week and he had punched her in the face several times but she was still alive afterward, Trafton said.
Bail for Tanke, who appeared in Will County court Saturday, was set at $75,000.
