Man Convicted of Murdering Illinois Child Welfare Worker

Benjamin Howard Reed has been found guilty but mentally ill for the murder of Deidre Silas, a child welfare worker, during a home visit in January 2022. Reed, 35, stabbed Silas 43 times and bludgeoned her with a sledgehammer, actions described by Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Madonia as 'one of the most brutal and heinous' he has encountered. The court recognized that Reed suffered from a mental illness at the time of the crime but determined he was aware of his actions. Following the incident, Reed fled the scene but was apprehended at a hospital for injuries sustained during the attack. The case has led to the enactment of new laws in Illinois aimed at enhancing the safety of child welfare workers. Reed's sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2024, where he faces a prison term of 20 years to life.