Monday Court Hearing Looms For Daycare Death Case
(CBS) – An update is expected next week in the case of a suburban woman who may have been wrongfully convicted of killing a toddler in her care.
It's the case of Melissa Calusinki, who was found guilty of murder four years ago and sentenced to 31 years in prison.
Now her mother is speaking to CBS 2's Brad Edwards for the first time since the case broke back open.
"I want her home," she says.
A Monday court hearing looms. It's a post-conviction petition status -- a potential step towards freedom.
Ben Kingan died from a previous, untreated injury. Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd, citing newly recovered X-rays, changed the manner of death from homicide to undetermined.
Calusinski admitted guilt only after nine hours of interrogation and after 79 denials.
A key interrogator is now Chief George Filenko, the face of the Lt. Gliniwiecz investigation. It's a story they've watched on television.
In that investigation, as in theirs, Filenko is at odds with Rudd.
Filenko said the Lake County State's Attorney's Office is handling the Calusinki case. The prosecutor's office declined comment, saying it's a pending case.
