Son pleads not guilty to Aurora man’s killing

A man accused of fatally stabbing his father at an extended-stay hotel in Westmont last month entered a formal plea of not guilty Monday in DuPage County court.

William V. Clifford, 32, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of his 63-year-old father, also named William Clifford. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison, Assistant State’s Attorney Helen Kapas said.

Clifford appeared in court before Judge Robert Kleeman wearing an orange jail outfit and shackles, while his public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He did not speak other than to say he understood the charges.

Clifford is accused of repeatedly stabbing his father about 1:10 p.m. May 28 at Homestead Studio Suites, 855 Pasquinelli Drive in Westmont.

Prosecutors said a witness reported hearing screams in a third-floor hallway and looked out to see the defendant on top of the victim, stabbing him. The witness later identified Clifford in a lineup, according to the allegations.

Authorities said the victim, an Aurora resident, had rented a hotel suite for his son about a month earlier, after the defendant was kicked out of a Chicago YMCA for having alcohol. Prosecutors said the killing happened after the father and son began to argue during a visit.

Police arrived to find the elder Clifford bleeding from several stab wounds, and he was pronounced dead a short time later. Prosecutors said the younger Clifford initially fled but was apprehended when he returned to the scene in a white T-shirt covered in blood.

On Monday, Kapas said authorities were still awaiting the completion of a psychological report for Clifford, who has prior arrests in California, South Dakota and Texas but no recent criminal history in DuPage.

Clifford remained in the county jail with bail set at $2 million. His next court date is Aug. 9.