Wojciech Sadelski charged with murder in Archer Heights beating death of his 56-year-old mother

Michael Lansu — Fri, 22 May 2015 09:26:48 -0500

Wojciech Sadelski / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A Southwest Side man accused of murdering his mother allegedly admitted to police that he “lost it,” killed her and said it was a “good thing” she was dead.

Officers found Maria Sadelski in her basement with trauma to her head and body Wednesday night after her younger son attacked his brother with a hammer and tried to run him over with Sadelski’s car, Assistant State’s Attorney Akash Vyas said.

Sadelski, 54, also was beaten with a hammer and stabbed with a knife, a police source said.

Earlier, Sadelski’s 30-year-old son had come to the family home from work and noticed it was dark, prosecutors said.

Then, within seconds, his younger brother, Wojciech Sadelski, started attacking him with the hammer inside their home in the 4800 block of South Karlov Avenue, Vyas said.

The brother was able to escape to a neighbor’s house and call 911 after a brief struggle. But when he started walking back to the home to check on his mother, Wojciech Sadelski, now in their mother’s car, drove onto the sidewalk, trying to run him over, Vyas said.

The brother jumped out of the way and Wojciech Sadelski, 26, ended up crashing his car into the side of a garage, Vyas said.

Wojciech Sadelski then ran out of the car and chased his brother before hitting him with the hammer, Vyas said.

When police officers arrived, they were able to take the hammer from Wojciech Sadelski, Vyas said.

They found the mother of the two men inside after the older brother asked them to check on her, Vyas said.

Wojciech Sadelski was charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Wojciech Sadelski slouched forward in court Friday, grabbing onto the table in front of him as a Polish interpreter described the allegations.

He may be suffering from a mental disability, an assistant public defender told Judge James Brown.

“He is a danger to himself and society,” Brown said before ordering Wojciech Sadelski held without bail.

Maria Sadelski, 54, found beaten to death in Archer Heights home

Michael Lansu — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:34:41 -0500

A 54-year-old woman was found beaten to death in her Archer Heights home Wednesday night.

Police found Maria Sadelski in the basement of her home in the 4800 block of South Karlov Avenue about 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Sadelski had apparent head trauma and was dead at the scene, authorities said. A police source said she was beaten with a hammer and knife.

An autopsy confirmed Sadelski died of multiple blunt-force injuries from an assault and her death was ruled a homicide.

Detectives are investigating if the attack is domestic related and how a vehicle crashed into the garage after the killing, police said.

Esmeralda Flores, who lives next to Sadelski and her two sons, said she was coming home from work when she saw one of the sons running.

"We heard a really loud noise, so we came outside and we saw that he was screaming, ‘Help,’ and he was on the floor," Flores said.

Flores said she saw somebody fighting with one of Sadelski's son. When police arrived, officers asked Flores and her family to go back to their home, she said.

Flores said the Sadelski family was always cordial with her family.

“They’re really nice to us. Whenever we’re outside they say, ‘Hi, how are you guys doing?’”

Police said detectives are questioning two people, but would not say if it was Sadelski's sons.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

Maria Sadelski | Homicide Watch Chicago

Wojciech Sadelski charged with murder in Archer Heights beating death of his 56-year-old mother

Maria Sadelski, 54, found beaten to death in Archer Heights home