Northwestern medical school professor arrested on homicide charges: 6 takeaways

Wyndham Lathem, PhD, a former associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Chicago-based Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and a British individual were apprehended by California police for their alleged role in the "savage killing" of a hairstylist in Chicago last month, according to The Washington Post.

Here are six things to know about the incident.

1. Chicago police named Dr. Lathem, 42, and Andrew Warren, 56, who worked in the pension and paycheck processing department at Oxford University in the U.K., as suspects in the fatal stabbing of Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, 26, July 27. Officials said the alleged attack, which occurred inside Dr. Lathem's luxury apartment at the Grand Plaza Apartments in downtown Chicago, was "so vicious it left the knife blade shattered," according to the report.

2. Mr. Warren surrendered to San Francisco police, while Dr. Lathem reportedly turned himself in to U.S. marshals outside of a federal building in Oakland, Calif., according to The New York Times.

3. Dr. Lathem allegedly waived extradition during a court hearing Aug. 7, meaning he may be escorted back to Illinois by the Chicago police as early as Aug. 8, The New York Times reports. A court hearing for Mr. Warren has not been scheduled.

4. Police said it is unclear if the three individuals knew each other prior to the incident. Officials said in a statement, "Both individuals will be held accountable for their actions and we hope today's arrest brings some comfort for the victim's family. We are also thankful that this did not end in further tragedy," The Washington Post reports.

5. Chicago police also disclosed the existence of a video Aug. 4 in which Dr. Lathem reportedly apologized to friends and family for his alleged involvement in the incident. Officials declined to release the footage, claiming it is "integral to any future interrogation efforts," according to The Washington Post.

6. Northwestern University terminated Dr. Lathem's tenure at the facility Aug. 4 and banned him from entering campus facilities. His faculty profile was also removed from the medical school's website.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars