Man Accused of Beating Mother with Bat Charged with Attempted Murder

A 20-year-old man who allegedly beat his mother into unconsciousness with a baseball bat and then staged the scene to look like a home invasion was charged with attempted murder Tuesday morning.

Joseph P. Conrad has confessed to the attack, which took place at about 8 a.m. Monday at the 2317 Hastings Drive home the two shared, according to a release issued by the Joliet Police Department. 

Kathleen Conrad, 43, is in critical condition at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Her son, a 2009 graduate of Plainfield South High School, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery and obstructing justice.

Joseph Conrad called 911 at about 2:10 p.m. Monday to report that he found his mother lying on the living room floor, the release said. The home, located near Caton Farm and County Line roads, is almost directly across the street from 's Meadow View Elementary School and is located in Joliet despite its Plainfield address.

In the six hours between the attack and the time it was reported, Conrad "went about his normal business throughout the day," according to news release issued by the department. The Will County jail booking sheet lists Conrad's occupation as "referee."

Kathleen Conrad suffered severe facial injuries as well as broken fingers, hands and nose in the attack. She underwent surgery to relieve brain swelling, the release said.

A window on the northwest side of the house was broken, and the victim's pants unbuttoned and pulled down, the release said.

When police found inconsistencies in Joseph Conrad's story, he was brought to the police station, where he admitted he had become "aggravated with his mother over various issues and struck her numerous times times to the head with a baseball bat," the news release said.

He broke out the window and attempted to stage the scene to look like a home invasion before calling police, the release said.

Police obtained a warrant to search the house and were able to recover the bat believed used in the crime and other evidence.

Conrad is being held in the Will County jail; no bond has been set.