Quincy man who allegedly stabbed 77-year-old woman charged with attempted first-degree murder

QUINCY — A Quincy man facing a charge of attempted first-degree murder made his first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas Delcour, 34, appeared with Sarah Lucey, an assistant appellate defender for Adams County, before Judge Scott Larson. Larson read the charges to Delcour during his hearing. 

Charging documents filed in Adams County Circuit Court show Delcour has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony, in that he stabbed Dorothy Hankins 12 times with a knife with intention to kill. If found guilty by a jury, he could face between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Delcour also was charged with three counts of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. If found guilty by a jury, he could face between two and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on those charges.

Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck said she had filed a verified petition for denial of pretrial release for Delcour. However, she said she received “new information from law enforcement” over the lunch hour regarding the investigation.

“We want to continue that investigation and provide all the information to the court, and that’s not quite ready yet,” Keck said.

Keck asked Larson to continue the petition hearing until Wednesday and keep Delcour lodged in the Adams County Jail.

“I think my primary objection is that Mr. Delcour, given every presumption of innocence in this stage, is going to be held one day (in jail) without even a hearing on whether he should be released,” Lucey said. “However, I do recognize there is some statutory authority that the state can ask for one day. My request would simply be that it be clear on the record that this is a request by the state, that speedy trial is not waived and that he will come into court tomorrow with 89 days left (for a speedy trial).”

Larson agreed with the continuance and told Delcour he would be advised of his rights on Wednesday.

An officer with the Quincy Police Department, who was at Blessing Hospital for an unrelated call, was approached at approximately 11 a.m. Sunday, April 21, by Hankins, 77, who said she needed help. She said she had been stabbed multiple times and had driven herself to the hospital.  

Hankins was treated at Blessing Hospital for serious injuries. A Monday press release from the Quincy Police Department reported she is still in the hospital.  

Officers responded to the location of the stabbing in the 900 block of North Third, and detectives were called in to assist with the investigation.  QPD detectives joined deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department on Monday to locate and arrest Delcour.