27-year sentence for man who murdered his mother in Bartlett

A man who murdered his 93-year-old mother was sentenced Monday to 27 years in prison.

Edward Mitzelfeld, 69, was found guilty but mentally ill by DuPage County Judge Daniel Guerin in April.

Lawyers for Mitzelfeld, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with bipolar tendencies, argued during the trial that he was mentally ill at the time he stabbed Frances Kelly in the kitchen of the home they shared in Bartlett.

Mitzelfeld had been treated by a psychiatrist and participated in mental health programs, both at the DuPage County Health Department, for more than 20 years before the program was discontinued.

At the time of the murder, he was being seen by a primary care physician mostly to treat diabetes.

“If Edward had just had the right treatment, perhaps this tragedy would not have occurred,” his attorney, assistant public defender Ed Laube, told Guerin. Laube requested the minimum sentence of 20 years.

Assistant State’s Attorney Rob Willis asked that Mitzelfeld spend the rest of his life in prison.

“He took away his mother's right to die peacefully and with dignity,” Willis said.

Mitzelfeld had been diagnosed 30 years ago. He told police that his mother had sent “power surges” into his head, causing headaches. He said his mother promised to stop doing so but reneged on the promise.

During the trial, prosecutors said Kelly had dementia. Mitzelfeld grew tired of her nagging and criticizing him, said Assistant State’s Attorney Alyssa Rabulinski, citing that as a motive for the murder.

Mitzelfeld stabbed Kelly at least 12 times.

Several days before the killing, Mitzelfeld said, persons unknown had taken over his car and caused him to crash at more than 100 mph near Normal. He visited the Bartlett Police Department to report spirits were in his car because of a curse his mother had put on him in the 1960s.

He also told police he heard voices telling him to make wrong turns while walking home from a sandwich shop the day of the killing.

A defense psychiatrist said Mitzelfeld was in and out of psychosis on the day of the murder.

“It’s a sad, tragic case for all involved,” Guerin said, noting that Mitzelfeld’s relatives had testified on his behalf and that Mitzelfeld had never committed a crime before the killing. “He is a quiet person who appeared to be a peaceful person.”