Orland Man Charged With Beating Elderly Dad Hires New Lawyer

An Orland Park man jailed for allegedly unleashing a vicious beating on his elderly, disabled father has hired a private attorney to defend him.

Public defender Samantha Blake Washlow withdrew from the case of Mark Williamson and was replaced by attorney Mike Brennan during a hearing Thursday at the Bridgeview courthouse.

Cook County Judge Colleen Hyland set an Aug. 14 status date so Brennan can review the evidence in the case.

Williamson, 46, faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint. The man Mark Williamson was charged with attempting to murder was his own father, George Williamson.

Mark Williamson allegedly attacked his then-76-year-old father in November. When the older man called 911 for help, he said he suffered his injuries in a fall. He later accused his son of choking and beating him while speaking with a friend who is an Orland Park police officer.

During an earlier court hearing, George Williamson testified that he was savagely attacked not by his son but by a demon with slanted eyes and a blue-green face. He eventually conceded that it was his son who did it.

Before his arrest, Mark Williamson was caring for his father, who suffers from emphysema and heart disease. At the time of the alleged attack, Mark Williamson had not been taking medication for his mental health issues, a public defender said at a previous hearing.

During Mark Williamson's last court appearance, his father stood up from his wheelchair and tried to speak to Judge Hyland. George Williamson didn't get to say much before the judge threatened to take him into custody and county deputies told him to be quiet.

George Williamson did not attend his son's hearing Thursday.

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