Dad who said, 'If I can’t have them, neither can you' pleads guilty to drowning his 3 kids

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (TCD) -- A 36-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to killing his three children, who were all under the age of 5.

WGN-TV reports Jason Karels entered the guilty plea Friday, Dec. 15. Lake County Superior Court records show prosecutors dropped several other murder charges against him in exchange for his plea to three counts of murder.

In a statement following the decision, Lake County State Attorney Eric Rinehart announced Karels' life sentence, which will be served in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and said his office will "continue supporting this family through this heart-wrenching case."

On June 13, 2022, at 1:40 p.m., Round Lake Beach Police Department officers were asked to conduct a welfare check at a home on the 200 block of East Camden Lane. When they got to the residence, they located the three young victims. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said the children’s mother discovered them deceased inside and called police.

The three victims were 2, 3, and 5 years old. The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed they all drowned.

At the scene, police officers found a note Karels wrote that said, "If I can’t have them, neither can you."

Illinois State Troopers arrested Karels the same day after a 17-minute car pursuit. Karels crashed his vehicle and reportedly "made statements to police officers regarding his role in the triple homicide."

The state attorney’s office filed murder charges against Karels on June 14, 2022, and he initially pleaded not guilty.

According to WGN, Karels' estranged wife was in the midst of gaining custody of the children when he killed them.

MORE:

• Round Lake Beach man charged with murder of his 3 children pleads guilty but mentally ill - WGN
• Karels will be sentenced to prison for life - Lake County State's Attorney's Office
• Murder Charges Filed Against Round Lake Man for Killing His Three Children, 6/15/2022 - Lake County State's Attorney's Office
• Round Lake Man Arraigned for Killing His Three Children, 7/14/2022 - Lake County State's Attorney's Office
• Round Lake Beach investigating death of three people, 6/13/2022 - Round Lake Beach Police Department
• People vs. Jason Karels