Charges Stick in Death of Romeoville Man Who was Punched at Party

After learning that will face charges in the death of her son, Theresa Guy burst into tears.

“There is a God,” she said, addressing reporters gathered outside the Will County Courthouse on Friday morning. “Hopefully, there will be justice for John.”

Guy’s son, 25-year-old John Powell of Romeoville, died in September after accepting a $5 party bet that he couldn’t take a punch from Startz, 22, of Joliet.

In January, Will County Coroner Pat O’Neil ruled Powell’s death a homicide, saying the man died after the force of the punch ruptured an artery in his neck.

Startz is charged with battery and reckless conduct. Another Romeoville man, Jimmy Mounts, 27, also faces felony reckless conduct charges in Powell’s death after urging partygoers to take the $5 bet. He is due in court June 16.

'No one expected this'

Powell and Startz were guests at a party held in Crest Hill to celebrate the life of a mutual friend who had committed suicide, Guy said, when Powell agreed to let Startz punch him in the face.

Powell collapsed shortly after being hit and was pronounced dead at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Ira Goldstein, one of Startz's attorneys, said the death was accidental, calling it a tragedy for both Powell and Startz.

“No one expected this to happen at all,” he said earlier this month, arguing that since the punch was consensual, it does not constitute a battery.

Guy sees it differently.

“I wouldn’t have thought it would happen either, but [Startz] knew what she was doing,” she said. “Yeah, [John] was a daredevil—he took the bet, [but] he didn’t say, ‘Yeah, hit me and kill me.’”

Melissa Powell said she thinks Startz should be held accountable for her cousin’s death.

“He’s still gone,” she said. “Nobody can bring him back. [Startz] should be punished for that.”

On Friday, Will County Judge Edward Burmila denied the motion filed May 13 by Startz’s attorneys.

"The defendant is not entitled, that I can find, to a pretrial determination,” Burmila told Startz and  attorney Edward Masters.

Startz, a 2007 graduate of , and Mounts are both free on bond.

Differing accounts

Powell’s mother said other party guests initially lied to police about the circumstances that led to his death.

“The worst part is that they just let him lay there while they decided what story they wanted to tell,” she said.

“I don’t know how many different stories there were,” Guy added, saying police reports contained several different scenarios, including claims that Powell tripped, fell and struck his head. Another version stated that he jumped up while performing with his rap group and hit his head, Guy said.

Melissa Powell said friends also held off on calling 911 until underage guests had a chance to leave the party.

“They didn’t call the cops right away because there was underage drinking,” she said.

Prior to his death, Powell, a former student, had recently moved back to Romeoville and was living with his cousin, Guy said.

“He went to work every day,” she said. “He had his dog—that was his baby. He just loved his family.”

Burmila’s decision was a relief to Powell’s family and friends, according to Guy.

“We’ve all been sick over this,” she said. “It’s a battle every day.”

Melissa Powell said she hopes the trial phase provides closure for Guy.

“She can’t move on,” Melissa said. “She needs justice."