Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national in the US illegally, appeared via video link from a hospital bed at a Cook County court hearing on Monday, after his defence attorney said he had suffered a seizure. He is charged with the murder of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University Chicago freshman, and could not attend in person because of his hospitalisation.

Medina-Medina joined the proceedings remotely by Zoom rather than appearing in the courtroom, with his lawyer stating he had been admitted to a local hospital after experiencing a seizure earlier in the week. Commentary accompanying the report, including from a retired NYPD inspector, has raised scepticism about the health-related defence being presented on his behalf. Gorman's case has drawn wider attention given the defendant's immigration status.