Authorities have released the name of the 70-year-old man fatally stabbed multiple times with garden shears in Beach Park last week. The man’s son has been charged with murder.
George W. Bryce, 21, of the 12900 block of Peacock Road in Beach Park, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Warren H. Bryce, 70, of Beach Park.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded at 3:05 p.m. Thursday to the 12900 block of Peacock Road for a report of a domestic battery in progress.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found Warren Bryce with multiple sharp-force injuries laying on the floor, Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Deputies administered aid to the victim before he was transported by ambulance to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan with critical injuries. He died the next day around 1:30 p.m., Covelli said.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper confirmed Warren Bryce died from sharp force trauma.
“The initial responding deputies quickly ascertained the man’s son, George W. Bryce, was responsible for causing the injuries to his father,” Covelli said. Bryce was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Detectives learned that George Bryce and his father were involved in a “domestic-related incident” when George Bryce attacked his father, Warren Bryce, with a pair of garden shears, Covelli said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said that Bryce initially appeared before Lake County Associate Judge Paul D. Novak Friday morning, who ordered the man held on a $2 million bond on the initial attempted murder charge.
When Warren Bryce died, charges were upgraded to first-degree murder and the attempted murder charge was dismissed. Lake County Associate Judge Patricia L. Cornell ordered George Bryce to be held on a $3 million bond.
Judge Cornell said that if Bryce is able to post the required 10 percent bail, he is not to have contact with witnesses involved in the case, not possess any weapons and refrain from consuming drugs or alcohol. He would also be on 24-hour electronic home monitoring, Judge Cornell said.
George Bryce remains held in the Lake County Jail. Bryce is due back in court on August 7.