Man Accused Of Dumping Uncle's Body In Joliet Cemetery Mentally Fit

JOLIET, IL — For the past year, the Will County State's Attorney Office could not make any progress in its quest to prove that Anthony "Tony" Harames committed first-degree murder in the killing of his Joliet uncle. On March 3, 2022, Harames was declared mentally unfit to stand trial in the death of his 53-year-old missing uncle Timothy Bokholdt of Joliet's College Park subdivision of Houbolt Road.

In December 2021, Harames led Joliet detectives to the slain body of his uncle, which was being hidden on the back of the property for Joliet's Woodlawn Cemetery on Jefferson Street, according to Joliet police. The uncle had died from several stab wounds inside his house.

Now, 11 months after Harames was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial at the Will County Courthouse on his murder charges, Will County court officials just learned that Harames has had his mentally competency restored.

It's a noteworthy development because Harames was returned to the Will County Jail this month after being gone the past 11 months.

Harames had been undergoing psychiatric treatment under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Human Services at the Elgin Mental Health Center.

A Jan. 31 court document informed Will County Chief Judge Dan Kennedy "that the defendant is FIT TO STAND TRIAL," with those four words in bold and all capitalized letters.

Bail for Harames remains set at $5 million.

On Dec. 8, 2021, Harames was involved in a six-hour standoff with Joliet police in the 900 block of Natoma Court at the house belonging to his missing uncle. The following day, Harames led Joliet police to the body, sources told Joliet Patch at the time.

Joliet police believe the homicide happened around Nov. 17, 2021. The uncle died from a stabbing inside his house in the 900 block of Natoma Court and Harames later drove the dead body to Woodlawn Cemetery where Harames disposed of the 53-year-old homicide victim and then drove away, according to police.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet Killer Dumps Uncle's Body In Woodlawn Cemetery: Police

6-Hour Police Standoff On Natoma Court: Anthony Harames Arrested

Is Joliet Murder Defendant Anthony Harames Fit To Stand Trial?