Arlington Heights Man Who Killed Mom In 2004 Won't Be Released

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — An Arlington Heights man who fatally stabbed his 80-year-old mother during a psychotic episode nearly 15 years ago will remain in the Elgin Mental Health Center indefinitely after a state appeals court ruled him not ready for a conditional release, the Daily Herald reported. John DeWyze, who was 43 years old when he fatally stabbed his mother, Eileen, was found not guilty of first-degree murder by reason of insanity in 2006 following the October 2004 killing in the Arlington Heights home he shared with his mother, wife and children.

Court documents indicate that DeWyze was acting erratically on Oct. 27, 2004, and having suicidal thoughts shortly before the killing, according to The Daily Herald. This led his mother to call police, and when officers arrive DeWyze attempted to stab one, slashing the officer's protective vest, court documents state. DeWyze then turned and stabbed his mother after she grabbed his arm, the Daily Herald reported, citing authorities.

The Daily Herald said in February 2017 that Elgin officials recommended DeWyze be moved from the secure facility to a transitional living program in Arlington Heights, claiming DeWyze no longer needed inpatient treatment and would benefit from redeveloping daily living and social skills.

But last week Cook County Judge Marc W. Martin said he wasn't convinced DeWyze was ready for outpatient care due to a number of reasons and despite witnesses testifying that DeWyze had never harmed anyone or himself while in Elgin.

According to court documents, those reasons include DeWyze's failure to take his medication twice in the past and what officials described as a strong resistance to change.

Patch will update this piece as information becomes available.