Crime & Safety

Is Alleged Bath Salt Drifter Killer Fit? Court Supervision

The alleged bath salt drifter killer was in court last week and will be back again next week too.

By Joe Hosey

A Will County judge said last week that he will review court transcripts and case law before deciding whether to allow a psychiatric evaluation to be used as evidence in the case of a homeless man charged with murder.

The homeless man, 43-year-old Michael Eberle, allegedly broke into a Troy Township business and beat a worker to death in March 2012.

Eberle's attorney, Stewart Ferreira, previously said the alleged killer has a "long history of substance abuse," including the "long and chronic use of bath salts." The chronic drug abuse has left Eberle brain-damaged, Ferreira said, and possibly unfit to stand trial.

But Ferreira wants to keep a fitness evaluation from being used in the case against Eberle. During last week's hearing, Judge Robert Livas said the matter has become "so convoluted" that he would only make his decision after reviewing such material as court transcripts and case law.

Here's what else happened in court last week:

  • Former Will County Board Member Kathleen Konicki's bid to secure a protective order against an old boyfriend she claims is holding "personal" photos over her head was put on hold when her lawyer had to leave to take care of business in Kankakee.
  • There was this.
  • A Plainfield lawyer sued an environmental products and services company he claims killed more than 40 decorative fishhe kept in a backyard pond.
  • A Lockport man jailed for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend in the head with a steak knife appeared in court and was ordered to be brought back again next month.

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