Alleged Mother Murderer's Sanity in Doubt: Attorney

By Joseph Hosey

When Charles McCullum allegedly strangled his mother, then stabbed her repeatedly and hammered a knife into her chest with a baseball bat, he may have "lacked substantial capacity to appreciate" what he was doing, according to court papers.

McCullum, 21, faces charges of first-degree murder, concealing a homicide and aggravated battery in connection with his mother's grisly killing in March. After strangling and stabbing his mother, 54-year-old Jeanie Parker, McCullum dumped her body in the Des Plaines River, police said. Parker's corpse was located and pulled from the water three weeks later.

Assistant Public Defender Kristine Honiotes filed court papers requesting that McCullum's sanity and fitness to stand trial be evaluated. McCullum has a "history of mental health issues and upon information and belief is currently on psychotropic medications," according to the filings.

Also, "when speaking with (McCullum) he does not appear to adequately understand the nature of the proceedings" and "cannot adequately assist his counsel in the defense of this case," the court papers said.

McCullum also has received past treatment for mental illness, the filings said.

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