‘He’s gonna die’: Suburban teen gets 8 years after severely beating man with autism

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — A 17-year-old West Chicago teen received eight years in prison following a brutal attack of a man with autism last year.

Sebastian Kegebein received the sentence this week after taking a guilty plea deal on the charge of attempted first-degree murder.

On the night of July 23, 2023, Kane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 0N785 Old Kirk Road on the report of a 19-year-old man who had been violently beaten.

The man has autism and was kicked hundreds of times in the face, head and body. The man was forcefully and repeatedly stomped on his head while he laid on the ground in a fetal position.

Kegebein was three days shy of his 16th birthday at the time and was allegedly with his co-defendant Jacob Berrera, whose case is still pending.

Authorities allege the pair high-fived each other after the beating and one said “he’s gonna die.”

The man suffered life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized in Northwestern’s intensive care unit. He has permanent brain damage and seizures due to the incident, authorities said.

Kegebein was tried as an adult and must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, according to prosecutors. He received credit for 366 served in juvenile detention.

A booking photo is not available for Kegebein.

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