NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Schaumburg, Ill., December 15, 2025: A 28-year-old Schaumburg man has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his father, who was found beaten to death inside the family home over the Thanksgiving weekend, authorities said.
Abhijit Patel is accused of killing his father, Anupam Patel, 67, with a sledgehammer on Saturday, November 29, at a residence in the 1100 block of South Salem Drive. Police responding to the home found Anupam Patel unresponsive in his bedroom with severe head injuries. He was pronounced dead later that morning, and the Cook County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
According to prosecutors, a sledgehammer was found near the victim’s bed. Abhijit Patel allegedly struck his father at least twice, causing fatal injuries that included a fractured skull.
Patel was arrested at the scene after police said he emerged from the home with his hands raised. During a court hearing, prosecutors said there was an active order of protection in place at the time of the killing that barred Abhijit Patel from contacting his father, stemming from earlier threats.
Authorities also cited a history of mental health issues. Prosecutors told the court that Patel has previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had undergone psychiatric hospitalizations. They said he made delusional statements to police following the incident, including claims that it was his “religious duty” to kill his father.
Court records further indicate that Patel had prior encounters with law enforcement and mental health professionals, and that concerns about violent behavior had been raised in the past. Prosecutors argued that these factors, along with the violation of the protective order, demonstrated a continued danger to the community.
A judge ordered Patel held without bond pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 19. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison.
The case remains under investigation.
