'Delusional' Son Claims It Was His 'Religious Duty' To Kill Father: Prosecutors

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Despite an active order of protection against him by his family, Abhijit Patel, the man accused of killing his elderly father over the Thanksgiving weekend, was still living at home with his parents at the time of the attack. The 28-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder and will remain in custody until his trial, with his next court date set for Dec. 19.

Anupam Patel, 67, died Saturday as a result of blunt head trauma injuries sustained in a violent attack at the family's home in the 1100 block of Salem Drive.

Abhijit Patel, who reportedly told police it was his "religious duty" to kill is father, made his first court appearance Monday. Prosecutors shared a proffer with details of the incident with Patch.

Anupam Patel's wife, who is Abhijit's mother, had woken up and left for work at around 5:42 a.m. Saturday, leaving the two home alone. According to the document, the victim was not employed due to diabetes, and his glucose monitor was connected to his wife's cell phone to enable her to monitor his blood sugar while she was at work. Typically, Anupam Patel called his wife at around 8 a.m., which he did not do on the date of the incident, to inform her of his blood sugar level. Seeing that her husband's glucose levels were dropping, she became worried, but was unsuccessful in reaching her husband or son by phone.

Prosecutors said she returned home at around 10:30 a.m. to check on her husband, and found the usually locked garage door unlocked. She then knocked on the house door and her son, Abhijit, let her in. She asked her son what was going on, to which he reportedly replied that he had "taken care of father" and she should go and check. Abhijit Patel also told his mother he had used a sledgehammer, prosecutors said.

RELATED: Son Used Sledgehammer To Kill Elderly Father In Schaumburg — Prosecutors

The wife rushed upstairs to the victim's bedroom, where she found him lying in a bed covered in blood, according to prosecutors, and called 911.

When police arrived, Abhijit Patel reportedly came out of the home with his hands up and had apparent blood spatter on his shirt. Police found the elderly Patel lying in his bed, with a large amount of blood on his pillow. There was also a sledgehammer with apparent blood on it sitting next to the bed, according to prosecutors.

Anupam Patel was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide following an autopsy, stating he had died as a result of blunt head trauma injuries sustained in the assault. He had suffered from a fractured skull and a broken nose, according to the medical examiner. There were also two abrasions to his head, one on his temple, and toward the center of his head, indicating that the victim was struck with the sledgehammer at least two times, according to the proffer.

According to prosecutors, Abhijit Patel had an active order of protection in place which prohibited him from physically abusing, harassing, interfering with personal liberty, stalking, or having any unlawful contact with the victim. He had an ongoing history of threatening to kill his father, prosecutors allege. The order of protection is active until January 2027.

During a post-Miranda interview, prosecutors say Abhijit Patel told police it was his "religious duty" to kill his father for allegedly molesting him when he was a child. He also admitted to being under the care of doctors who believe his claims against his father are "delusional." Prosecutors also said Abhijit Patel made admissions to bring the sledgehammer to his father's room while he was awake and lying in bed. He said he had struck his father with the sledgehammer multiple times, then put the weapon down next to the bed, and left the room.

RELATED: Man's Death From 'Blunt Head Trauma' Ruled Homicide — Coroner