Naperville Man Charged With Murdering His Mom With Kitchen Knife

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — DuPage County Police have charged a Naperville man with first degree murder in the stabbing death of his mother in unincorporated Downers Grove. Kevin James, 23, of Naperville, allegedly fatally stabbed his mother multiple times with a kitchen knife on the afternoon of Jan. 9 inside their home in the 2100 block of 63rd St.

Bond has been set at $3 million.

At approximately 1:38 p.m. Tuesday, emergency services received a call from the home. The caller, James's sister, told police her brother had stabbed their mother.

Deputies arrived on the scene to find Patricia James, 51, covered in blood and lying unresponsive on the front room floor with "multiple stab wounds." She was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police say Kevin James was inside the residence when they arrived and took him into custody. According to Daily Herald, James told investigators that "he saw green demons and dinosaurs surrounding his mother and he wanted her go to heaven."

Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano said, "I would like to commend the deputies who arrived on scene and captured the suspect before he could flee the area." "It was reported that James was attempting to gain access to vehicles traveling on 63rd Street and those deputies undoubtedly prevented further violence from occurring."
Daily Herald reports that James was attempting to commit suicide by running at cars after stabbing his mother.

In a statement, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin offered his sympathy to the James family. "Last Tuesday, Patricia James was stabbed to death, allegedly by her own son, Kevin," Berlin said. "To her surviving family and friends, I offer my sincere condolences on their loss.

James is currently being held at DuPage County Jail on charges of first degree murder. Daily Herald reports that Judge Liam Brennan will rule on a motion for a psychiatric exam at James's arraignment, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 26.

>>Image via DuPage County Sheriff's Office