News Local/State

U Of I Student Charged With Murder In Infant’s Death

 
Bousfield Hall on the University of Illinois' Urbana campus.

Bousfield Hall on the University of Illinois' Urbana campus. U of I Housing

Murder charges have been filed against a University of Illinois student who’s accused of suffocating her newborn son in her dorm room. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says 20-year old Lindsey Johnson of Monee faces 20 to 60 years in prison, if convicted. 

The sophomore also faces a charge of child endangerment, and one count of concealment of a homicidal death. 

Rietz says U of I Police were called to Johnson’s dorm, Bousfield Hall, on Sunday, March 13th, after a witness heard crying and groaning sounds from a bathroom. 

After initially telling officers she was ill, officers returned when a witness reported hearing a baby crying. 

Johnson later admitted to officers that she may have been trying to quiet the child by putting a towel over his mouth, and confessed to hiding the baby under her bed when police made their initial visit.

An analysis of Johnson’s phone showed a history of searches for information pregnancy symptoms and home abortions.  A preliminary determination by a forensic pathologist indicates the baby was born alive.

The News-Gazette reports Johnson is free on bond after making her first court appearance earlier Tuesday.