A real estate agent who works for a small company in Normal, Ill., has been arrested as a suspect in the stabbing death of a partner in a real estate rehab business venture, according to reports.
Diana Thames, 47, a licensed real estate agent in Illinois since 1998, reportedly confessed to Palatine Police investigators that she stabbed Cindy Wolosick, 46, last week, according to police and media reports. Wolosick reportedly worked as an elementary school speech therapist in Palatine and was a longtime friend to Thames.
Thames, who was arrested Sunday by Palatine Police, is a real estate agent for Realty Professionals in Normal, Ill. Thames worked there with Patricia Cosenza, the office broker. Cosenza could not be reached today for comment.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges against Thames for first-degree murder late Saturday, Palatine Police reported. A representative for the Cooks County State’s Attorney’s Office said Thames was scheduled for a court appearance today. Her bond was set at $3 million.
Police said in a statement, “After being confronted with the physical evidence and the inconsistencies in her original statements, Thames made a video recorded confession to the killing. Thames said that she and Wolosick had a verbal argument just prior to the murder over the financial debt of their joint business.”
Also, police reported, “Thames said she then attacked Wolosick with a knife taken from the kitchen. Other evidence in the investigation also shows Wolosick recently had begun questioning unexplainable shortages occurring in their business in which Thames was the bookkeeper.”
Wolosick reportedly was been stabbed several times in the neck and chest at her condominium in Palatine and her body was found in her bed, and police recovered a knife and other items from the home. Thames had reportedly called 911 at 5 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, to report Wolosick’s death, and told police she found Wolosick’s body after spending the night as a guest in her home, the news report states.
Wolosick, Thames, and two other female friends had just returned from a week vacation in Mexico late Thursday night, according to police. Only Thames stayed overnight with Wolosick, police said in a statement – she reportedly claimed that she didn’t want to drive home in the bad weather.
“Wolosick and Thames had reportedly been friends for approximately 25 years and had been business partners for the past three years rehabbing real estate,” according to the report.
Wolosick and Thames had reportedly taken out bank loans together to fix up several properties in the Bloomington area. Cosenza said in the Associated Press and Pantagraph report, “If you know Diana, you could never picture her picking up a knife and hurting somebody. She’s not like that. She’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet. I’m just in shock.”
Mike McGaughan, executive officer for the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors – of which Thames is a member – said the news is upsetting. “We have had some calls today (about the arrest). Our president has had some calls. It is just totally shocking for us,” he said. “It’s a sad thing to talk about.”
McGaughan said there are about 535 Realtors in the local Realtor trade group. The cities of Bloomington and Normal have a combined population of about 160,000.
Thames’ real estate license was revoked in 1998 after she bounced a check for her licensing fee to the state, said Susan Hofman, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Thames’ license was reinstated in March 1999 with a reprimand after she petitioned for restoration of her license and paid a $300 fine, Hofman said.
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