Indictments Returned in June Fatal Beating in Addison

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that the DuPage County Grand Jury returned indictments yesterday against Troy B. Kindt, 34 (d.o.b. 8/19/70) of 43 Woodview Drive in Glen Ellyn for the June 12, 2004 beating death of Nickolaus Artman, 24 and the severe beating of his brother Anthony Artman, 26. The Grand Jury indictments allege that Nickolaus’s death was caused by the defendant beating, kicking, and hitting him with a flashlight. The indictment also alleges that the beating death of Nickolaus and the aggravated battery to his surviving brother were "accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty." The Grand Jury also found that Kindt hid the flashlight that was used during the commission of this crime. The indictments returned against Kindt are as follows:

"If convicted of First Degree Murder with this aggravating circumstance, Troy Kindt would be eligible for an extended term sentence of up to 100 years or natural life in prison," said State’s Attorney Birkett.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.