Boy With Autism Found Stabbed To Death In River Grove
Updated 06/10/13 - 2:05 p.m.
RIVER GROVE, Ill. (STMW) -- A 14-year-old boy with autism was found stabbed to death inside an apartment in west suburban River Grove on Sunday.
WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports River Grove police found Alex Spourdalakis stabbed to death in a bed in the apartment he shared with his mother in the 8100 block of West Grand Avenue. Police said Alex had suffered from severe autism.
Autistic Boy Stabbed To Death
River Grove Police Chief Rodger Loni said police got a call from a relative around 3 p.m. on Sunday, and officers found Alex lying in bed with multiple stab wounds to the chest. They also found two disoriented women lying on the floor.
"They were incoherent at the time; somewhat unconscious. They were both transported to Gottlieb Hospital" in Melrose Park, according to Loni.
The women, both 50 years old, were identified as Alex's mother, Dorothy Spourdalakis, and her caregiver. Neither woman had suffered any visible signs of trauma, and Loni said they might have taken drugs before police arrived.
Loni said a hand-written note was found at the scene that explained what happened. The note had both women's names. Further details about what was written were not revealed.
Police said officers had been called to the home at least seven times since November to help Alex's mother and her caregiver restrain the teen, who stood at least 6 feet tall, and weighed about 225 pounds.
Alex had struggled with severe autism for his entire life and autism advocates had pushed to get him the medical help he needed.
Loni said the caregiver was not cooperating with police, while the mother has given investigators a statement.
"They know something that happened there, but whether they're responsible or not, I can't say … at this point in time," Loni told CBS 2's Susanna Song.
Police said the doors to the apartment were locked, and there were no signs of forced entry. Police also said in a news release that the stabbing "appears to be domestic in nature." The case remained classified as a death investigation as of Monday morning.
River Grove police and the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force were investigating.
