New court date set for Campton Hills man accused of beating his mother to death

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Attorneys set March 3 for a plea or setting a new trial date for a Campton Hills man charged with felony second-degree murder in the death of his mother.

Thomas J. Summerwill, 23, was indicted in connection with the baseball-bat beating death of his mother, Mary Bridget Summerwill, 53, on March 24, 2019.

Summerwill was experiencing “alcohol impairment” at the time, and believed she was an intruder, according to prosecutors.

Summerwill has pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury trial.

Appearing remotely via Zoom Thursday before Kane County Judge Charles Petersen, Summerwill Liam Dixon said he was waiting on an expert report.

“He has sent me a portion of that report, I just need to get it to Mr. Sams,” Dixon said, referring to Assistant State’s Attorney Greg Sams.

Petersen set the next court appearance, also remotely via Zoom.

Court calls are being held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several dates set for Summerwill’s trial were canceled due to the pandemic or scheduling conflicts with attorneys, court records show.

According to the grand jury indictments, Thomas Summerwill intended to kill or do great bodily harm to Mary Summerwill by striking her about the head repeatedly with a baseball bat; and that he knew that it would cause her death or cause great bodily harm.

The indictments state that if she had been an intruder, his actions would be justified, but that Thomas Summerwill’s belief that she was an intruder was unreasonable.

Second degree murder is a Class 1 felony, punishable by four to 15 years in prison and fines up to $25,000, or a judge may authorize up to 48 months of probation, if convicted.

Summerwill was released from custody in May 2019 after posting $30,000 bail or 10% of the $300,000 bond that was set.