Schaumburg man attacked with hammer released from hospital

A Schaumburg man who was in a coma after being attacked with a hammer in March has been released from the hospital, while the 15-year-old girl accused of the crime still faces the possibility of adult charges.

Rajesh Thakkar, 58, was released from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital on May 28, nearly two months after he was attacked March 29 in the foyer of his apartment building on the 100 block of Pickwick Drive.

He and his wife, Gita, have relocated from that apartment to a rented home elsewhere in the village, said a brother of Thakkar who also lives in Schaumburg.

Thakkar goes for physical therapy three times a week, his brother said. He can speak a few sentences at a time and can walk slowly, but can do neither for long. He has lost the vision in his right eye, but family members do not yet know whether it is permanent.

"Now, only if there is a miracle can he then see," the brother said.

The 15-year-old girl who lived downstairs from Thakkar appeared in Cook County juvenile court Tuesday. She is charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery. Her next appearance was scheduled for July 27.

Assistant Public Defender Jerome Barrido said the girl is still being evaluated at a mental health hospital, where she was sent after reported behavior problems in custody, including threats to kill herself.

Barrido added that his office has begun making progress in obtaining some out-of-state documents on the girl's past behavioral issues that were initially hard to get.

Assistant State's Attorney Adrienne Lund said her office is preparing a motion to charge the girl as an adult, but it has not yet been filed.

The girl's 18-year-old sister, Latifa Johnson, is already facing a charge of obstruction of justice in adult court.

Investigators believe Johnson played no part in the actual attack on Thakkar, but she's been accused of trying to cover up the crime by cleaning blood from the scene before police and paramedics arrived. Her next court date is June 23.

Police have said they believe robbery was the motive for the attack. They said after striking him on the head with a hammer, the teen tried to drag Thakkar out to a man-made pond behind the building.

Thakkar arrived at the hospital in critical condition, and underwent surgeries to his eye and brain.