Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Mark Crites, who pled guilty to the 2022 murders of John and Gloria Norgaard, stood before a courtroom Wednesday, apologizing to a grieving family as he was sentenced to life in prison.

Crites pled guilty to the murders, which occurred on Sept. 11, 2022, at the Norgaards’ Southwind Road home. Circuit Judge John Madonia ruled that Crites was mentally ill at the time of the killings, leading to a finding of “guilty but mentally ill.”

Under Illinois law, individuals convicted of murder but found to have been mentally ill are sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections. For Crites, this means a term of natural life.

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Southwind Road residence after a report of a person down. Deputies found Gloria Norgaard with a gunshot wound and later discovered John Norgaard, also fatally shot. A firearm was missing from the home, along with the Norgaards’ vehicle.

The following day, authorities in Macoupin County located the stolen vehicle. Crites was inside, still in possession of the firearm used in the murders.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said he hopes the convictions and sentence help to bring closure to the Norgaard family.