Charges Filed In Stabbing Death Of Autistic River Grove Teen
RIVER GROVE, Ill. (STMW) -- A River Grove mother and another woman are charged with murder for allegedly stabbing an autistic 14-year-old teenager to death in the family's west suburban home.
Police found Alex Spourdalakis stabbed multiple times in the chest Sunday afternoon, lying in his bed in a second-floor apartment located above a business on Grand Avenue.
His mother, Dorothy Spourdalakis, and Jolanta Skrodzka are both charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said.
Spourdalakis, 50, and Skrodzka, 44, also lived at the apartment in the 8100 block of West Grand Avenue in River Grove where he was found dead.
Police found the teen's mother and a caregiver "semi-conscious" but uninjured in the locked apartment
The teen had been hospitalized several times since November 2012 because of his medical condition, which was severe enough that his mother often required help from police officers and paramedics. Police said they had been called to the home seven times since last November.
"When she needed to take him, she needed our help," River Grove Police Chief Rodger Loni said, describing Alex as weighing about 225 pounds.
"He was a big strong young man," Loni said.
Alex's father and an uncle went to the residence around 3 p.m. Sunday after being unable to reach his mother or caretaker, according to police.
Finding the apartment locked, they forced their way in, found the slain teen and called police.
Both women will appear for a bond hearing at the Maywood courthouse Wednesday, Simonton said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
