Parents say gas leak killed toddler, IL cops say, Now they're accused of murder

Miami Herald

3 days ago

A 2-year-old girl was lying unresponsive on an ottoman as her dad performed chest compressions in an attempt to revive her, Illinois deputies said.
She was taken to the hospital on Nov. 6 and died in the early hours of Nov. 7, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a June 2 news release. Her 49-year-old father and 28-year-old mother said her death was caused by a gas leak in the home, officials said.
However, Homer Township Fire and Nicor Gas found that there was no leak in the Homer Glen home, deputies said.
The toddler's parents were indicted on first-degree murder charges on June 2 after the toddler's autopsy results revealed new evidence, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies did not disclose the toddler's cause of death.
In the home where the 2-year-old and her 6-year-old sister lived, authorities found 'deplorable living conditions' during their investigation, deputies said.
Xanax pills littered the bedroom floor, and approximately 9 grams of heroin were found within reach of children, according to deputies. Investigators also found soiled diapers, rotting food and medical waste.
Multiple doses of used Narcan were also found near where the 2-year-old girl was discovered in the home, authorities said.
The parents were taken to the sheriff's office for questioning, and their 6-year-old daughter was placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, deputies said. At the time, the parents were charged with felonies and released, according to officials.
Following their indictment on June 2, the couple was released on pretrial conditions, according to officials.
Homer Glen is about a 40-mile drive southwest from downtown Chicago.