Man dies after getting punched by a girl

Two people are facing criminal charges after a “party game” gone wrong ended in a man’s death.

Authorities said Jimmy Mounts, 27, of Romeoville, was at a garage
party in the 2000 block of Waterford in Crest Hill Sept. 25 when he
starting offering other guests $5 if they could take a punch from
21-year-old Tiffany Startz, of Joliet.

John A. Powell, 25, who was 5-foot-8 and weighed 140 pounds, took
Mounts’ wager and stood before the 5-foot-5, 142-pound Startz, police
said.

Witnesses told police Startz swung and hit Powell once in the face. He
collected his money from Mounts and continued talking and interacting
with others for a few minutes before he collapsed, police said.

He was rushed to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 9:47 p.m.

Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said Powell died of a brain
hemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma. Medical reports indicate a
vein in Powell’s neck opened up when his head snapped back and led to
the brain injury.

“Initially there were conflicting reports from the witnesses about what
had happened,” Crest Hill Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said. “But
further investigation the night of the party found out about the bet.”

Powell was employed by E.H. Lynn Industries. A rapper and recording
artist, he was known as “Fatboy” with the group Krazy Killas.

Will County state’s attorney’s spokesman Charles Pelkie said after
reviewing the evidence prosecutors decided to charge Mounts and Startz
with reckless conduct, a felony that carries penalties of up to three
years in prison.

O’Neil last week ruled Powell’s death a homicide, noting on the death certificate he died “as the result of a party game.”

Startz turned herself in to police Dec. 28 before she was released on
$10,000 bail. Mounts was arrested Monday and released on $5,000 bail.