Westmont Man Found Guilty of Slaying Father

Caption: William Clifford, 35, was convicted of the May 2014 first-degree murder of his father in Westmont, IL.

After just two hours of deliberation, a DuPage County jury found a Westmont man guilty of stabbing his father to death in May 2014.

William V. Clifford, 35, formerly of 855 N. Pasquinelli Drive, was convicted of first-degree murder after a four-day-long trial in front of Judge Robert Kleeman, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced.

The verdict was returned Friday afternoon.

According to the charges, Westmont police officers responded to a call of a fight in progress with injuries at Clifford’s residence. Upon their arrival, officers found the Westmont man’s father, William Clifford, 63, lying in the hallway on the third floor of the apartment complex, bleeding from his upper body.

Investigators said that Clifford Sr. went to visit his son when a fight broke out between the two men, when the younger Clifford was said to have repeatedly stabbed his father.

After the altercation, Clifford Jr. allegedly fled, only to return to his apartment several hours later where he was arrested by Westmont police.

“This afternoon, a jury found William Clifford, Jr. responsible for the murder of his father,” said Berlin in a news release. “This is a very sad case that has taken a tremendous toll on the Clifford family. This case also demonstrates that domestic violence continues to be a serious problem that can strike anywhere and anytime resulting in devastating consequences.”

Clifford Jr. is due back in court on Feb. 27 for filing of post-trial motions and and return of the pre-sentence report.

The former Westmont man faces a sentence of 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.