Gillespie man committed for 60 years

A Gillespie man on Wednesday was committed to up to 60 years in a state mental health facility after killing his mother in 2019.

Macoupin County State's Attorney Jordan J. Garrison announced that Judge Joshua A. Meyer has ordered Clinton Sanders, 29, of Gillespie, be placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for up to 60 years.

On May 24 a bench trial was held before Meyer with Sanders facing one count of first degree murder for the Dec. 15, 2019, death of his mother, Sandra Sanders. A welfare check on the woman found her outside of her home, barely responsive, under a deck behind the house. She was transported to Carlinville Area Hospital and later died.

A forensic pathologist later determined Sandra Sanders died of blunt force trauma.

Meyer found Sanders not guilty by reason of insanity.

At a commitment hearing on July 26, prosecutors said Sanders's mental illness posed the threat of serious physical harm upon himself or others. Meyer ordered Sanders into the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for up to 60 years from the date of the homicide, setting his maximum "out date" as Dec. 16, 2079.