Schaumburg (Illinois): A 28-year-old Indian-origin man, suffering from schizophrenia, has been charged with first-degree murder in the US, for allegedly beating his 67-year-old father to death with a sledgehammer at their home in Schaumburg, Illinois.
According to NDTV, Abhijit Patel, has been accused of killing his father Anupam Patel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Though he had an active order of protection against him by his family, Abhijit still lived at home at the time of the attack, according to reports in the US media.
Cook County prosecutors claimed that Anupam was found unresponsive and bleeding from the head in his bedroom by his wife shortly before 11 am on November 29.
According to officials, Abhijit’s mother and Anupam’s wife left for work at around 5.42 am on the fateful day. Her husband and son were at home. Anupam was not employed due to diabetes, and his glucose monitor was connected to his wife’s phone, Patch news reported, citing court documents.
Anupam was supposed to call his wife around 8 am, to inform her about his blood sugar level. However, he did not do so that day. His wife noted that his glucose levels were dropping and got worried after be
ing unable to reach him or her son over the phone.
She returned home around 10.30 am, where she found the garage door unusually open and her son saying he had “taken care of Dad” and she “should go check on him.”
The woman found her husband lying in bed, covered in blood, and called the police. Emergency responders arrived shortly and pronounced Anupam dead. They found a sledgehammer at the scene. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered at least two blows to the head, fracturing his skull and breaking his nose.
Abhijit is said to have surrendered as soon as police arrived. During questioning, he told the police that he had a “religious obligation” to kill his father for allegedly molesting him when he was a child. He also admitted he was under medical treatment. His doctors believe his claims against his father are “delusional”.
Records show Patel has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was previously hospitalised for treatment.
Prosecutors told the court that Abhijit admitted to bringing a sledgehammer to his father’s room while he was lying in bed awake. He confessed that he struck his father with the sledgehammer multiple times, then put the weapon down next to him before leaving the room.
At the time of the murder, Abhijit was prohibited from contacting his father, as he had made threats to kill him earlier, but was allowed by his parents to stay at home. The order of protection is active until January 2027.
Authorities have said that Abhijit is being held without bail and prohibited from contacting his mother. His next hearing is scheduled for December 19.