Mother of missing, presumed dead, infant Zaraz Walker appears in bonding court on new charge

Kimberlee Burton’s bond is $250,000. (25 News/HOI ABC)

By HOI ABC

MCLEAN COUNTY-The mother of Zaraz Walker, who has been missing since at least Sunday, February 13 and is now presumed dead, appeared in bonding court Friday on two counts of concealment of a death.

According to a probable cause statement presented today, Kimberlee Burton visited with a female family member on February 15 saying that two weeks earlier, the infant passed away at home after falling asleep between her legs.

Burton told the relative that she didn’t call anyone to take the baby to the hospital as she “didn’t want to deal with nobody.”

Burton made similar statements in another jail video visit occurring on February 16.

A neighbor also told police that they saw Burton throwing away infant items like a baby bed and a car seat in a dumpster. That same neighbor said they saw Walker around Christmastime, according to the statement.

Burton’s bond is $250,000.

She is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. March 22.

To date, the infant has not been found and is believed to be deceased based on the fact of her disappearance, Burton’s statements and other information obtained during the investigation, according to the statement.

HOI ABC can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…