Brother of Romeoville Man Charged With Killing Child in Drunken Crash: 'Keep the Family in Your Prayers'

The Romeoville man charged with killing his son in a drunken crash is a psychologically troubled veteran of the War in Afghanistan, his own father said.

The father of 29-year-old Shannard Dyer declined to give his name after his son appeared in Will County bond court Tuesday afternoon. Judge Roger Rickmon ordered Dyer returned to jail where he is being held in lieu of $750,000 bond.

Dyer's brother, Sheldon Dyer, asked Judge Rickmon to lower the bond since Shannard Dyer "has kids who are in the hospital at this point and one unfortunately has passed."

"He's not a flight risk or anything," Sheldon Dyer said.

The judge pointed out he cannot lower the bond without Shannard Dyer's attorney requesting he do so. And since the Dyer family declined to be represented by the public defender and did not have a lawyer at the hearing, there was no one to make that request Tuesday.

Sheldon Dyer also complained to the judge that no one from his family has been able to see or speak to his brother since the deadly Sunday morning crash on Interstate 55. Rickmon told him he has no control over jailhouse visitation policy.

Shannard Dyer was booked into the county jail upon his release from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Monday. He faces six counts of aggravated driving under the influence in connection with the crash that claimed the life of one of his children and critically injured two others.

Shannard Dyer drove his 2012 Dodge Journey into the median south of Interstate 355 in Bolingbrook and rolled the SUV. The three of his five children riding with him in the Journey were ejected from the vehicle. Four-year-old Taylor Dyer was killed. The other two children, ages 2 and 7, were first taken to Good Samaritan and then transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

The two children were reportedly in critical condition when they arrived at the hospital but Shannard Dyer's father said they were in serious condition Tuesday afternoon.

After leaving the courthouse, Sheldon Dyer called for reporters to prayer for his family.

"Keep the family in your prayers," he said. "Please just respect the family and keep the family in your prayers."

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