Family stands as witnesses for former Ottawa fireman accused of murder

OTTAWA – The family of a former Ottawa fireman accused of drowning his wife in a toilet took the stand to testify on behalf of him. LaSalle County State’s Attorneys claim 52-year-old Kenneth Cusick is guilty of first degree murder in the drowning death of Tracy Cusick in 2006. On Tuesday, defense attorneys called Cusick’s mother and sister to recall an incident during Thanksgiving 2005 where Tracy was allegedly under the influence and later passed out during the meal. During cross examination, Cusick’s sister says the table incident was brief and Tracy helped clean up after. The Cusick’s daughter, who was seven years old at the time of Tracy’s death also stood as a witness for her father. Kacie described an incident to jurors where she believes her mother was attempting to commit suicide. Just a few years before Tracy’s death, Kacie says she witnessed her mother inside of her vehicle with it running in the garage. Defense attorneys will continue to build their case against State’s Attorneys on Wednesday at the LaSalle County Courthouse.