College Student Accused Of Fatally Beating His Own Mother

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Student Beats Mom With A Bat After Being Startled In His Sleep

A college student was charged after beating his own mother to death with a baseball bat inside of their Illinois home after he mistook her for an intruder, according to a report on Tuesday.

21-year-old Thomas J. Summerwill was home for spring break back in March, which is when he claims his 53-year-old mother Mary startled him while he was asleep. That’s when he grabbed a signed memorabilia baseball bat off the wall and bashed her over the head, according to reports from The Daily Herald.

The mother ended up dying later of cranial injuries. Summerwill’s father was at home at the time and both he and the son called police following the incident. The University of Wisconsin-Madison student was charged with second degree murder on Monday.

Prosecutors determined that Thomas had an unreasonable belief that his mother was an intruder and his actions were intentional. They also argued that Summerwill was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack.

Summerwill’s lawyer, Liam Dixon, has said that the student was “devastated” and the death was a “horrible accident.” Dixon continued, “Whatever the state does to him will pale in comparison to what’s already happened.”

Thomas posted $30,000 bond on Tuesday and is due back in court on May 23.