Mental health exam pending for man accused of suffocating his son

OTTAWA – A mental health exam is pending for a LaSalle man accused of suffocating his infant son. 23-year-old Kenneth Herbst faces first degree murder charges stemming from a March incident in the 900 block of Grant Street in LaSalle where authorities say he smothered his 2-month-old son with a pillow case. On Friday morning at the LaSalle County Courthouse, Public Defender Tim Cappellini said the mental health exam that would determine if Herbst is fit for trial has not happened yet. There will be another court hearing for Herbst on January 16th.