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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Parents say gas leak killed toddler, IL cops say, Now they're accused of murder
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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Homer Glen couple charged with first-degree murder in connection with 2-year-old daughter's death
WILL COUNTY, Ill. — The parents of a two-year-old girl who died under suspicious circumstances inside their Will County home in 2024 have been charged with first-degree murder. Police in Will County were called to the home of 49-year-old Edward Weiher and 28-year-old Alexa Balen, located in the 2200 block of West Thorn Apple Drive, just after 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024, on reports of an unresponsive child and a possible carbon monoxide leak. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Weiher, who owns the home, performing chest compressions on two-year-old Trinity Balen-Weiher on an ottoman in the living room. Balen and her six-year-old daughter were also inside the home. During the initial investigation, deputies say they spotted garbage, rotten food, soiled diapers and clothing, medical waste and evidence of significant drug use. Nine grams of heroin were found in the home, within reach of both children, police say. 21 Xanax pills were also on a bedroom floor and multiple doses of Narcan were located near the ottoman where the child was when police arrived. Trinity Balen-Weiher was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where she died the next day. Homer Township Fire personnel and Nicor Gas confirmed there was no gas leak at the residence. Balen's six-year-old daughter was placed in protective custody and later released to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, both Weiher and Balen made incriminating statements during interviews. They were arrested on initial felony charges and later released. However, an autopsy conducted by the Will County coroner shows new evidence that supports first-degree murder charges. Weiher and Balen appeared in court and were indicted on the new charges Monday. They have been released under pretrial conditions per the Illinois Safe-T Act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
