Son gets 35 years for killing father after fight about living arrangements
A Westmont man convicted of fatally stabbing his father in May 2011 was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison.
A DuPage County jury deliberated for less than two hours in January before convicting William Clifford III, 36, of first-degree murder.
Clifford, prosecutors said, was upset about having to live in an extended stay hotel in the suburbs and missed his previous “swanky” apartment in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood and proximity to the beach, Lake Michigan and the grocery store.
DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney and Deputy Chief of Criminal Prosecutions Helen Kapas said Clifford stabbed his father eight times after the father and son argued about Clifford's living arrangements, which his parents largely financed, along with a $300 weekly allowance.
Clifford's mother, Susan Clifford, read a three-page victim impact statement, in which she described how her husband's murder affected her and other family members. She also described the family's efforts to help Clifford.
“Bill did everything he could to keep our oldest son, William V. Clifford III, safe after his mental illness diagnosis. He would take (Clifford) out to lunch and to the grocery store every week to make sure that he was taking care of himself and had enough food to eat,” she said. “He stepped in countless times to rescue him from his poor decisions and actions. We both thought that if we could keep him safe and out of trouble, then eventually he would gain insight into his illness and be able to manage his own life.”
Kapas sought a 50-year sentence, 10 years shy of the maximum.
Senior Assistant Public Defender Kristen Nevdal, however, called the murder a “tragic situation for everyone” and argued the stabbing was about much more than an argument about living arrangements.
“What we have here is a 35-year-old man with a history of mental illness,” she said, adding Clifford was diagnosed in 2002 as schizophrenic and bipolar.
She said Clifford mistakenly viewed his father as the one responsible for repeatedly committing him to lengthy hospital stays, rather than a family member attempting to get him help.
Nevdal said Clifford also had a history of abusing drugs and alcohol, sometimes mixing them with his medication. If he can remain clean, Nevdal said, Clifford is unlikely to be a repeat offender and asked Judge Robert Kleeman to consider the 20-year minimum term.
“We believe that if the defendant gets stabilized medication and treatment for at least 20 years in a sober environment, he is unlikely to reoffend,” she said.
Kleeman said he found Clifford's mental illness may explain his actions, but does not excuse his actions and said a 35-year sentence serves to deter others from committing such violent acts.
Prior to being sentenced, Clifford apologized.
“I'm sorry,” he said. “Please have mercy on me.”
Clifford gets credit for having served 1,396 days since his arrest.