Murder charge filed in child’s death

Posted on April 24, 2019
Cynthia Marie Baker, 41, faces murder charges for the death of an 8-year child in January. (Normal Police Department photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The death in January of an 8-year old Prairieland Elementary School student from Normal has been labeled a homicide, and authorities blame a woman, believed to be the girl’s stepmother, for the child’s death.

A McLean County grand jury indicted Cynthia Marie Baker, 41, also known as Cynthia Marie Clay, for three counts of murder, one count of aggravated battery of a child, and one count of aggravated domestic battery.

The charges allege Baker kicked the girl in the stomach. From the blunt force trauma, the child suffered perforated or ruptured intestines, causing peritonitis, or inflammation of her abdominal wall.

Police said the child was taken at first to a local hospital on the night of Jan. 25.  She died the next day at Peoria’s OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

Baker faces up to 60 years in prison if found guilty of murder. She’s jailed on $1 million bond.

Investigators said they are still actively investigating the child’s death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Normal Police Detective Joe Gossmeyer at 309-454-9614 or McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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