Elk Grove Village man charged in mom's murder opts against insanity defense

Nearly three years after authorities charged him with murder, Jonathan Wood's day in court approaches.

Charged in the October 2008 slaying of his mother Marilyn Wood at her Elk Grove Village home, Wood indicated through his lawyer that he does not intend to pursue an insanity defense and that he wants a judge to decide his fate.

A court-appointed psychiatrist initially found Wood, 42, unfit to stand trial. However the psychiatrist later found him fit to stand trial so long as he takes his medication.

“He wants to go to trial,” said Cook County Assistant Public Defender Jim Mullenix following Thursday's hearing before Cook County Judge Bridget Hughes. Hughes took over the case from former Third District Presiding Judge Joseph Urso upon his retirement earlier this year.

Wood had lived with his 70-year-old mother until about a month before her death, when court records show she took out an order of protection against him.

Police found nothing unusual when they visited the home on Oct. 30, 2008, following a request for a well-being check from Marilyn Wood's co-workers, who were alarmed when the normally punctual woman failed to show up for work that day. Police returned the following day, after Marilyn Wood's co-workers received a fax telling them she would be out of town. Authorities believe Jonathan Wood sent the fax. Authorities say police traced the number to an Arlington Heights insurance agency, where an employee told them a man walked in off the street and asked to use the fax machine. The employee described the man's vehicle, which matched a description of Wood's car. Police attempted to stop Wood when they spotted him driving near the crime scene later that day. Police say Wood fled, leading them on a high-speed chase that ended in Glencoe with Wood's arrest.

Mullenix anticipates his client's trial will take place sometime this year.

Wood remains in Cook County Jail on a $3 million bail.