A 28-year-old Indian-origin man has been charged with first-degree murder in the United States after allegedly killing his 67-year-old father with a sledgehammer at their home in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The accused, Abhijit Patel, is alleged to have committed the crime over the Thanksgiving weekend, despite an active order of protection issued against him by his family, according to US media reports.
Cook County prosecutors said the victim, Anupam Patel, was found unresponsive and bleeding heavily from the head in his bedroom shortly before 11 a.m. on November 29. His wife discovered him after returning home from work.
On the morning of the incident, Anupam Patel’s wife had left for work around 5:42 a.m., leaving her husband and son alone at the house.
Anupam Patel, who was unemployed due to diabetes, regularly monitored his blood sugar levels through a glucose device linked to his wife’s phone. As part of their routine, he would usually call her around 8 a.m. to update her on his condition.
When that call did not come on the day of the incident and she noticed his glucose levels dropping, she became concerned.
Unable to reach either her husband or son by phone, she returned home around 10:30 a.m. There, she found the garage door open and her son telling her that he had “taken care of Dad” and that she should go and check on him.
She found her husband lying on the bed, covered in blood, and immediately called the police. Emergency responders arrived soon after and pronounced Anupam Patel dead at the scene. A sledgehammer was recovered from the bedroom.
An autopsy later revealed that the victim had suffered at least two severe blows to the head, resulting in a fractured skull and a broken nose.
Abhijit Patel surrendered to police when they arrived. During questioning, he told investigators that he believed it was his “religious duty” to kill his father, alleging that his father had molested him during childhood.
He also informed police that he was undergoing medical treatment, and doctors reportedly believe his allegations against his father are delusional.
Court records show that Abhijit Patel has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has previously been hospitalised for treatment.
Prosecutors told the court that he admitted to taking a sledgehammer into his father’s bedroom while the latter was awake in bed and striking him multiple times. He then placed the weapon beside the victim before leaving the room.
At the time of the killing, Abhijit Patel was legally barred from contacting his father due to earlier threats to kill him. However, his parents had still allowed him to live at home. The order of protection remains in effect until January 2027.
Abhijit Patel is currently being held without bail and has been prohibited from contacting his mother. His next court hearing is scheduled for December 19.
