Schaumburg, Illinois, USA: A 28-year-old man from Schaumburg has been formally charged with first-degree murder following the death of his father, who was discovered fatally assaulted inside their family residence during the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to law enforcement officials.
Authorities identified the suspect as Abhijit Patel, who is accused of causing the death of his 67-year-old father, Anupam Patel, by repeatedly striking him with a sledgehammer. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, November 29, at a home located in the 1100 block of South Salem Drive.
Police officers responding to an emergency call found Anupam Patel lying unconscious in a bedroom, suffering from serious head injuries. He was later pronounced dead that morning. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma and ruled the case a homicide.
Prosecutors stated that investigators recovered a sledgehammer near the victim’s bed. They allege that Abhijit Patel struck his father at least twice, resulting in catastrophic injuries, including a broken skull.
Police said the suspect was taken into custody at the scene after exiting the residence with his hands raised. During court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that a protective order was active at the time of the incident, prohibiting Abhijit Patel from having any contact with his father due to earlier threats.
The court also heard details regarding Patel’s history of mental health treatment. Prosecutors said he had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been hospitalised for psychiatric care. Following his arrest, Patel allegedly made irrational statements to officers, including claiming the killing was a “religious obligation.”
Court documents further show that Patel had prior interactions with both police and mental health services, with earlier concerns raised about possible violent behaviour. Prosecutors argued that these circumstances, along with the violation of the protective order, indicate that he poses an ongoing risk to public safety.
A judge ruled that Patel will stay in custody without bond while awaiting trial, with his next court appearance set for December 19. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 20 to 60 years.
The investigation into the case is ongoing.
