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Suspect in murder of 81-year-old Oak Park relative to undergo mental health assessment

Jan. 11, 2017 – Charges against a Chicago man suspected of killing his 81-year-old Oak Park relative have been put on hold to allow time for a mental health assessment.

Oak Park Police said they had expected charges to be filed against the sole suspect in the murder of Patrick Dooley whose body was found on Jan. 6 inside his Oak Park apartment, but the investigation determined possible issues of mental health needed to be assessed before any criminal actions are considered.

The suspect, who has not been identified because no charges have been filed, is being held in a secure, mental health treatment facility, according to Police.

“This is a very sad domestic situation that came to the most unfortunate end imaginable,” said Oak Park Police Chief Anthony Ambrose. “While there is no doubt a brutal crime occurred, questions about why remain that need to be answered and understood before any steps toward prosecution are taken.”

The incident began as a death investigation after Police discovered the body at about 7:40 p.m. on Jan. 6 while conducting a well-being check. The inquiry became a homicide investigation the next day when the Cook County Medical Examiner determined Dooley had died from multiple injuries in a likely assault.

Police say their initial findings prior to the cause-of-death determination suggested the victim had known his assailant since there were no signs of forced entry or other indications of foul play that would put the public at risk.

The suspect was quickly identified, brought in for questioning and held pending determination of charges.

Updates will be provided as they come available and posted at www.oak-park.us/news

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Jan. 8, 2017 – Charges are expected to be filed against a relative of an 81-year-old man whose body was discovered at about 7:40 p.m., Sat. in the apartment where he lived alone in the 100 block of North Austin Boulevard in Oak Park.

Police had determined that the public was never at risk, since no obvious signs of foul play or forced entry into the apartment were found.

The incident began as a death investigation after Police discovered the body of Patrick Dooley while conducting a well-being check at the request of a relative. The inquiry became a homicide investigation once the Cook County Medical Examiner determined Dooley had died from multiple injuries in an assault.

The investigation is continuing. More information will be released as it becomes available.