Man charged with murder in suffocation death of 4-month-old baby

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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that his office has filed a first-degree murder charge against a 19-year-old Bolingbrook man accused of suffocating his 4-month-old baby.

Randel L. Thomas, of 185 Jeffrey Lane, Bolingbrook, is alleged in the charge to have “pushed down on the head of Christopher Thomas with his hand, thereby suffocating Christopher Thomas.”

At the request of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, bond was set at $5 million. Thomas must post 10 percent of that amount, or $500,000, to secure his release while awaiting trial.

Thomas currently is in custody at the Will County Adult Detention Facility. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m., October 26 in Courtroom 405 of the Will County Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.

Bolingbrook Police and Fire responded to a 911 call at 2:05 pm, Friday, Sept. 25 at the Jeffrey Lane residence in reference to a baby not breathing. Police and paramedics found a 5-month-old child unconscious and not breathing.

The infant was transported to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that day. 

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.