Ex-NFL hopeful found insane in Lombard neighbor's murder

An ex-NFL hopeful was found not guilty Thursday by reason of insanity in a Lombard murder that claimed one life and ended the once-promising future of another.

The verdict means Hubert "Boo Boo" Thompson, 31, will be treated and confined to a high-security state mental institution, rather than prison, until a judge finds he is safe to be released into society again.

State law requires Thompson's period of detainment to be based on sentencing guidelines for the crime. So, he cannot be held more than 60 years.

Thompson hurled James A. Malone to his death March 30, 2007, from a third-floor balcony in the Finley Place apartments on Lombard's southwest side after accusing his 66-year-old neighbor of secretly poisoning him.

An unarmed Thompson fled after the unprovoked attack to his sister's apartment in the next building, surrendering peacefully seven hours later after about 50 SWAT team members surrounded the evacuated area.

Thompson confessed in a videotaped police interview, which prosecutors played Thursday in court. Thompson said he had to kill Malone, who he believed was trying to poison his food. The two did not have any earlier run-ins.

But Thompson had a long history of mental illness dating back to his childhood, including prior hospital stays, and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia with delusional thinking. He stopped taking his prescribed medication before the murder.

"He believed Mr. Malone was Satan," said John Murray, a respected forensic psychologist whose opinion authorities relied upon for the insanity verdict. "In a dream, he viewed himself as Jesus and that he'd be crucified if he did not kill Mr. Malone. He also had these thoughts while awake."

In court Thursday, a handcuffed Thompson kept his head lowered and appeared subdued. His mother, Maggie Ross, and two sisters sat nearby in the hushed courtroom gallery. Malone's relatives also attended the two-hour court hearing.

"We understand (the sentence)," said Lori Malczewski, the victim's cousin. "It's just a shame that someone who has been ill for so long kept being let back into society until someone else had to lose their life. It's just a sad situation."

Both families embraced and offered each other heartfelt condolences.

"(Malone) was a beautiful man," said Kim Hicks, the defendant's sister, who tried to intervene during the attack. "We are so sorry."

DuPage Circuit Judge Peter J. Dockery presided over Thursday's stipulated bench trial. Prosecutors Mary K. Cronin and Michael Pawl agreed with defense attorney Steven Wagner that Thompson's mental illness made it impossible for him to understand that day the criminality of his actions.

In the simplest terms, a mentally ill Thompson could not distinguish between right from wrong. Still, the prosecution argued a medicated Thompson continues to have delusional thoughts.

"There quite simply is no legal justification for what he did," Pawl said.

Malone sang in the choir at Christ the King Catholic Church in Lombard and was active in the Knights of Columbus. He was a retired accountant and shared the apartment with his mother before her death years earlier.

Malczewski described him as a kind, family-oriented man who loved to play cards and listen to music. A popular Chicago deejay nicknamed him "Slim Jim from Lombard" during his frequent calls to the radio station.

Thompson, a 6-foot, 6-inch, 270-pound defensive end at Proviso West High School in Hillside, was the nation's top-rated prospect in 1996-1997, his senior year. He also won back-to-back state heavyweight wrestling titles and was a track standout.

After high school, Thompson went to Michigan State University but sat out his first two seasons because of poor grades. During the 1999 season, he was named the team's most-improved player after recording 45 tackles and seven sacks.

Undrafted after leaving Michigan State with two years' eligibility remaining, Thompson signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2000. He was cut two days into minicamp for fighting with veteran Darrin Smith over use of an exercise bike. His football career ended after Thompson briefly played in 2001 for the Chicago Enforcers of the failed XFL.