Misook Wang's murder trial began last week in McLean County court. (WJBC file photo)

By Paul Morello and Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON - Misook Wang testified in McLean County Court this morning that she didn't mean for her mother-in-law's death to happen and that she didn't report it because she feared what would happen.

Wang took the stand in her own defense as she faces murder charges for the strangulation death of Wenlan Tyda in Sept. 2011.

Wang said she used someone else to ask Tyda to come to Bloomington because she wanted to apologize for her part in getting her husband Don Tyda fired from his job.

Wang said she and Tyda got into a fight in front of Wang's business on Washington Street. She said she was defending herself when she grabbed Tyda's sweater and held it tightly.

"I couldn't believe what I had done. I killed my mom," Wang testified in court. When asked if the death was an accident, Wang started crying and said, "I didn't mean for it to happen. I'm sorry."

McLean County Assistant State's Attorney Bill Workman questioned Wang's story on the cross examination. Workman said Wang initially told police that she choked Tyda with her hands, but Wang denied that.

Will County pathologist Dr. Valerie Arangelovich, who performed the autopsy on Tyda, testified that she was likely strangled by hand, instead of being strangled by a belt or rope.

Workman continued to try to prove that the murder was premeditated. Wang denied that she lured Tyda to her shop with the promise of a $3,000 check.

"If I had planned to murder her, where is the murder weapon," Wang asked Workman.

Wang pleaded guilty at the start of the trial on charges that she concealed Tyda's death. 

"I was scared of what I did, because that was my mom," Wang said Monday.

The prosecution finished presenting its portion of the case last Friday.

Closing arguments are expected to be held on Tuesday.

Paul Morello can be reached at paul.morello@cumulus.com.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.