Charges Filed Against Mom Of Dead Infant
UPDATED: 12/12/2013 4 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Charges were filed Thursday against the mother of a dead 7-month-old baby found bundled in a snowsuit in a West Side apartment Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Chicago police said the mother of Lamya Hampton was arrested this morning. Erica Hampton, 25, was charged with one count of child endangerment resulting in a death, a class 3 felony, and two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. She is due in bond court on Friday.
An autopsy Thursday was inconclusive pending further studies, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. The state's child welfare agency said it has not had any contact with the family in the past.
Two other children, a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, inside the the apartment in the 3700 block of West 13th Street were transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital for observation, police said.
A neighbor discovered the baby in the car seat inside the apartment, which appeared to be unheated.
One of the infant's older sisters had gone to the neighbor, saying the kids had no food, were hungry, and had been left home alone.
The neighbor investigated and called 911.
Paramedics rushed the unresponsive infant to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Two older sisters were also taken there. They appeared to be OK.
