The man accused in the 2017 Mother’s Day murder of his uncle and grandmother in their Rock Island home will undergo up to five years of extended treatment in an attempt to get him fit to stand trial.

Judge Frank Fuhr ruled Tuesday after a discharge hearing that John P. Conwell will not be acquitted in the murders of Eleanor Conwell and Steve Conwell. 

Conwell was remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services. 

If after five years, Conwell is still unfit to stand trial in a criminal court of law, the People of the State of Illinois can move to civilly commit him to a state institution for the rest of his life.

EARLIER STORY
Backup in Department of Human Services delays Conwell case
November 2, 2017

A backlog in the Illinois Human Services Department is causing delays in courtrooms across the state. It’s now impacting one local, high profile case.

Police charged John Conwell with two counts of murder for the Mother’s Day deaths of his grandmother and uncle. In August, the court found him unfit to stand trial and ordered him to receive treatment from the Department of Human Services. 

Conwell’s trial is supposed to start one he finishes treatment, but the county says he was never picked up by DHS.

“The defendant was not picked up by the Department of Human Services and so it was continued for another two weeks to see if they’ll come and pick him up,” said Rock Island County State’s Attorney John McGehee. 

Conwell’s case isn’t unique. McGehee said this is starting to happen on a regular basis.

“They claim they don’t have the space, that it’s not their problem … However, there still needs to be pressure put on the Department of Human Services,” he said.

McGehee said at any time Rock Island has three to four defendants waiting for treatment from the state. While they wait, they’re stuck in the Rock Island County Jail.

“It’s a problem,” McGehee said. “We want to try to get these cases to justice as fast as we possibly can. This again just slows the process.”

For some criminal offenders with mental illness there is another option: mental health court. But it’s not for everyone. 

“Two completely different groups of people,” said Mental Health Court Coordinator Tracey Adair. “The offenders that we’re looking for are people who generally commit petty offenses due to their mental health conditions.”   

For violent offenders like Conwell, it’s up to the attorneys to force DHS into action. 

“Defense attorneys actually will file a rule to show cause to hold them in contempt,” he said.

Conwell’s next hearing date is Nov. 16.

DHS has not responded to a request for comment.

EARLIER STORY
Conwell found unfit to stand trial
August 8, 2017

A Rock Island man was found unfit to stand trial, a judge ruled Tuesday during a hearing at the Rock Island County Justice Center.

John Patrick Conwell was charged with the murder of his grandmother and uncle in Rock Island on Mother’s Day.

A psychologist evaluated Conwell and determined he doesn’t understand the process involved with taking him to trial.

Conwell will be transferred to a Department of Human Services facility in Chester, Illinois, to get treatment and medication. The maximum-security facility has psychologists and doctors on staff. Conwell has one year to try and regain fitness to stand trial.

If doctors determine he cannot be treated with medication or counseling, a separate evaluation will be done to determine whether he is considered to be “insane” or unfit to stand trial for life.

His status will be updated in 30 days and 90 days.

EARLIER REPORT
Man pleads not guilty in Mother’s Day murder of uncle, grandmother
May 30, 2017

The man accused in the Mother’s Day murder of his uncle and grandmother in their Rock Island home entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday morning.

John Patrick Conwell did not appear in court, but through his public defender entered a not-guilty plea.

Conwell objected to media coverage of the case and requested that he be allowed to appear in street clothes during court appearances, and that he not be videotaped in an orange jumpsuit. 

The bodies of Steven Conwell, 39, and his mother Eleanor Conwell, 90, were found in their 29th Street home. Both were hit in the head and their throats were slashed. Conwell’s next court appearance is June 30. 

EARLIER REPORT
Double homicide in Rock Island
May 15, 2017

UPDATE: Rock Island Police are charging 39-year-old John Patrick Conwell with two counts of first degree murder. 

Davenport Police found Conwell near 2nd and Ripley Streets on Monday around 1:45 p.m.

Conwell is being held in Scott County Jail. 

He will be extradited to Illinois. 

Conwell is the nephew of Steve Conwell and grandson of Eleanor.

EARLIER REPORT

Two people are dead in what police are calling a double homicide.

On Sunday night the Rock Island Police Department was called to do a welfare check at 1208 29th Street.

Inside the home they found 90-year-old Eleanor Conwell and her son Steve, 69, dead.

The Rock Island County Coroner tells Local 4 News that autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday and was not able to say yet how they died.

If you have any information about this case you are asked to call the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500.