Mother, godmother plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter of severely autistic teen

RIVER GROVE, Ill. (WLS) -- More than three years after Alex Spourdalakis, who had severe autism, was stabbed to death his mother and godmother pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Both women were found unconscious next to the 15-year-old's body in their River Grove apartment.

Dorothy and Agatha, Alex's mother and godmother, have spent about three and a half years in the Cook County Jail awaiting trial. They could have faced up to 60 years in prison for murder charges. Instead they are expected to be released for time served next week after entering their guilty pleas.

Alex was severely autistic; non-verbal and prone to fits of raise. Dorothy said she was at the point where she was unable to care for him, or even control him. She'd spent years seeking out healthcare options and had come up empty.

"There was no one to help her. She had no money, there's no facilities to take Alex. They would not take him. There was no treatment for him," said Mike Botti, attorney.

Amy Luko worked for several years with Alex as his therapist.

"I went with him to three different schools and they couldn't handle him, they threw him out," Lukos said.

Apparently feeling desperate, in June of 2013 River Grove Police found Alex's body in the family's apartment. He'd been drugged and stabbed to death. His mother and godmother, Agatha Skrodzka, were lying next to him, still breathing despite drugging themselves in attempted suicides.

While the State's Attorney first considered first degree murder charges, the two instead pleaded guilty to the much lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.

"Justice has to have some compassion, and looking at the facts of this case this was the just result," Botti said.

Botti said his client is wracked with guilt she'll have to live with for the rest of her life. She also now has a felony record. But he said it would have served no purpose to keep her behind bars, and friends agree.

"It's gonna be a long road. It's gonna be a long struggle," said Mike Wysocki, therapist.

Attorneys for the two women said they used the case of Bonnie Liltz as a precedent with the State's Attorney for this case. Liltz was convicted of killing her severely handicapped daughter. She also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.