Is Joliet Murder Defendant Anthony Harames Fit To Stand Trial?

JOLIET, IL — Anthony Gregory Harames, the 31-year-old man who Joliet police say confessed to killing his uncle and disposing of the body in the back of Woodlawn Cemetery, may not be ready for his first-degree murder case to move forward at the Will County Courthouse.

In recent days, Will County Judge Dave Carlson issued a mental fitness order stating "the court finds that a bona fide doubt exists as to the defendant's fitness to stand trial."

Court documents indicate the mental health unit of Will County Court Services has been appointed to determine Harames' mental fitness to stand trial.

The report is expected to be finished in time for Harames' March 3 hearing in Carlson's Courtroom 405. Bail for Harames on his first-degree murder charge is $5 million. In addition, he faces a bail of $150,000 in connection with felony domestic violence charges.

On Dec. 8, Joliet Patch was at the scene of a six-hour standoff that took place in the 900 block of Natoma Court in the College Park subdivision off Houbolt Road. Joliet police said Harames shoved and pushed his ex-girlfriend and demanded she leave. The woman was able to leave the house without being hurt, police said.

"It was also indicated that Harames was under the influence of an unknown substance and was barricading the door as the victim exited the home," police said. "As officers attempted to make contact with Harames, he grew agitated and told officers to shoot him. Harames retreated inside of the residence and refused to come outside. It was unknown at this time if others were in the home with Harames."

The Joliet house where the standoff happened was owned by Harames' missing uncle.

On Dec. 9, Harames led Joliet detectives to the body of his 53-year-old missing uncle, authorities said. Timothy Bokholdt's body had been dumped in the back of the Woodlawn Cemetery along Joliet's West Jefferson Street around Nov. 22.

Police believe his homicide happened around Nov. 17. The uncle died from a stabbing inside his house on Natoma Court, Joliet police have said.

"When Joliet police detectives interviewed Harames, he admitted to killing the victim with a knife weeks prior and then used the victim's vehicle to transport the body to Woodlawn Cemetery where he disposed of the victim's body," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said last month.

The Will County Jail lists Harames as residing in the 300 block of Stuart Road in Lockport.