Man arraigned in stabbing death of mother near Downers Grove

Kevin James, the Naperville man charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of his mother, was back in DuPage County Court on March 2 for an arraignment hearing before Judge Liam Brennan.

Clad in bright orange prison garb, James was handcuffed and shackled as he entered the fourth-floor courtroom for the brief hearing. He did not enter a plea.

Deputy Chief Public Defender Ruth Walstra said James’ family is still seeking a defense attorney and raising money for legal fees. Brennan continued the case until May 2 for a status hearing.

James, 23, winked at a female acquaintance as he exited the courtroom. The woman, who would not identify herself, briefly conferred with Walstra before leaving the courthouse. She would not comment to reporters.

James, a graduate of Downers Grove South High School, has been held in the DuPage County Jail since Jan. 9, when he allegedly fatally stabbed his mother, Patricia James, 51.

The incident occurred when the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a family member at a residence in the 2100 block of 63rd Street near Downers Grove. The caller said her brother had stabbed their mother inside the home, and she had fled, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

While in his mother’s home, James allegedly stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife, according to a DuPage County State's Attorney's Office news release.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the house and located James in the doorway of the residence, covered in blood, the release stated.

Deputies ordered him out of the residence, and he was taken into custody, according to the Sheriff's Office release.

Deputies entered the home, where they found James’ mother unresponsive on the floor of the front room with multiple stab wounds, officials said. She was taken by the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where she was later pronounced dead, the release stated.