The 47-year-old was arrested in Hammond, Ind., a day after the killing inside The Line bar along Illinois Route 114.
MOMENCE, Ill. — A man accused in the fatal, execution-style shooting of bar owner Courtney M. Drysdale has waived extradition in Indiana and is expected to be returned to Kankakee County, authorities said Wednesday. Drysdale, 30, was shot late Monday morning while preparing to open The Line, her rural bar just west of the Illinois-Indiana border.
Officials said the case moved quickly after investigators released images of a person of interest and asked the public for help. By Tuesday, deputies and task force officers located and arrested the suspect at a residence in Hammond, Ind. On Wednesday, the man appeared before a judge in Lake County, Ind., and agreed to be extradited to Illinois. Prosecutors in Kankakee County said they are preparing charges in the killing, which shocked the small community and drew dozens of tips from residents.
Investigators say Drysdale was getting ready to open The Line around 11 a.m. Monday when an armed man entered, demanded money from the register and, despite her compliance, shot her twice before fleeing. Deputies were called just before noon and pronounced Drysdale dead at the scene. “We were overwhelmed at the response from so many people throughout the community,” Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said, crediting tips for helping identify a suspect. Officers arrested the 47-year-old Tuesday as he exited his Hammond home, according to authorities, who said he was taken into custody without incident.
At Wednesday’s hearing in Lake County, a judge confirmed the suspect’s identity and informed him of the Illinois warrant and his rights in the extradition process. The man waived those rights, clearing the way for Illinois authorities to transport him to Kankakee County for booking and an initial court appearance. A legal analyst not involved in the case said people who contest extradition rarely prevail. Lake County officials said the suspect remains jailed until Illinois officers take custody. Authorities did not immediately say whether a firearm was recovered or describe what led them to the Hammond address.
Drysdale owned The Line, a standalone bar along Illinois Route 114 near Momence, a farm town roughly 60 miles south of Chicago and a few miles from the state line. The sheriff’s office said she was working alone when she was killed. Friends have described Drysdale as a devoted mother and small-business owner who often opened the bar herself in the late morning. Deputies said investigators gathered surveillance images from nearby cameras and fielded calls from across the county after asking for the public’s help on Tuesday morning. The bar remained closed this week as relatives and friends shared condolences.
Prosecutors in Kankakee County said murder charges are expected once the suspect is returned to Illinois and the case is filed in state court. Officials said an autopsy will help determine exact findings; a preliminary report is pending. Detectives continued to review video, interview witnesses and examine physical evidence collected at the scene and from the arrest location. Authorities did not identify a motive and did not provide details about any prior connection between the suspect and Drysdale. A judge in Kankakee County will set bond at a later hearing. The sheriff’s office said it will schedule a briefing once the extradition transfer is complete.
Outside the shuttered bar Tuesday evening, fresh flowers were tucked against the siding near the front door. A chalkboard sign listing past specials was still propped inside the window. “Courtney was the first person who welcomed me when I moved here,” said Hailey Gershon, a friend who has worked shifts at the bar. “People called and messaged all day because they wanted to help.” A handful of customers who knew Drysdale described a lively but tight-knit stop for locals and travelers heading toward the state line.
As of Thursday morning, the suspect remained in Indiana custody awaiting transfer arrangements to Illinois. Kankakee County officials said they will update the timeline for his first appearance once he is booked in the county jail.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.