Today, News 4 was first on the scene and first to report a disturbing story out of Madison County, Illinois.
33 Year old James Lane, of Wood River, is now charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery in the death of his father, 63 year old James R. Lane.
When we went to the Madison County Sheriff's Office bright and early this morning around 4:30, I went inside the department and immediately saw a throng of people with sad faces, hugging each other. I instantly knew they were relatives of the victim and suspect.

"I'd like to offer my condolences," that's all I could say to a woman during the hustle and bustle of trying to cover a tough story sensitively.

These stories are always difficult and mentally-draining because so many people are affected by the tragic circumstances. In this case, investigators tell us the suspect beat his father with a tool similar to a sledgehammer, then the younger Lane allegedly went after his mother with the same tool.

James Lane is now being held in jail without bond. His mother was treated and released for a chest injury, and his father, is now dead. It's just unreal, and hard to believe one family has been dramatically changed in just a matter of hours.

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