Mt. Prospect man not guilty by insanity in mom's death

Paul Castronovo may well spend the rest of his days believing his mother Mary was possessed by the devil and intended to harm his children. He may be forever convinced that he prevented that from happening by killing the 76-year-old woman two years ago in her Mount Prospect home, court psychologists say.

But what mattered Wednesday, as Castronovo's case concluded at Chicago's Criminal Courts Building, was the opinion held by Cook County Circuit Court Judge James B. Linn. Linn found the 45-year-old lawyer not guilty by reason of insanity of the December 2008 strangling of Mary Castronovo, an innocent victim who authorities say never posed a threat to her grandchildren.

Before announcing his finding, Linn referred to repeated hearings concluding Castronovo was mentally unfit to stand trial, an issue Linn said has “been examined and re-examined multiple times.”

Two psychiatrists for Cook County testified previously that Castronovo suffers from a mental illness that they described as a delusional disorder. They also testified that the John Marshall Law School graduate was legally insane at the time of the murder and that his ongoing delusions make him unable to assist his lawyer and therefore unfit to stand trial.

Prosecutors countered with stipulated testimony from Tony Allen Fletcher, a clinical psychologist with the Elgin Mental Health Center, where Castronovo is undergoing treatment. After examining Castronovo on Aug. 3, Fletcher agreed that he suffers from a mental illness, but Fletcher determined Castronovo was fit to stand trial.

Mount Prospect detective Mark Recker testified that when he arrived at the Castronovo home to investigate after Mary Castronovo's son-in-law reported her missing, Paul Castronovo met him at the door. Paul Castronovo who lived at the home with his wife and children allowed Recker to search the house. The search concluded in the basement, where Recker asked Castronovo to open the doors to a furnace room. The victim was inside, laying on the floor beneath carpet remnants.

Former Mount Prospect detective Robert Riordan, currently an investigator with the Office of the Cook County State's Attorney, testified that Castronovo admitted to police that he strangled his mother in her kitchen then put her in the basement because “he didn't know what to do with her,” Riordan said.

Asked the reason Castronovo gave for the murder, Riordan replied that “he was in fear that his mother was going to harm his children.”

“This belief that Mary Castronovo was a threat to (her) grandchildren was a belief in his mind only?” asked Cook County Assistant Public Defender Jim Mullenix.

Yes, said Riordan who testified he found no evidence she was a threat to anyone.

Linn remanded Castronovo to the Department of Human Services for evaluation and set Nov. 23 for the hearing on a proposed treatment plan, which could result in the court sending Castronovo to DHS care for up to 60 years.