Diamend
02-22-2008, 01:03 PM
Prosecutor: Baby dead after 8 days of neglect
Death penalty possible for parents charged with murder
By ANDY KRAVETZ
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Published Friday, February 22, 2008
PEORIA — Benjamin Sargent died with his eyes open, fists clenched and strapped into a car seat after eight days without food or water, authorities say.
Photos
http://sj-r.com/photos/full/25672-0222badweb.jpg
The baby's parents, Tracy Hermann and James Sargent, are being held without bond.
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The 5-month-old was dropped off at his parents’ house on Feb. 4, wearing a bright-blue snowsuit and strapped into his car seat. Eight days later, he was found in the filth-strewn home in the same position, Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons said Wednesday during a bond hearing for the parents, Tracy D. Hermann, 21, and James E. Sargent, 23, both of Peoria, who are charged with murder for their son’s death.
“It’s the worst case of child neglect we have seen since the turn of this century,” Lyons said afterward. “(On Tuesday), I told (Peoria Police) Chief (Steven) Settingsgaard that this case even rattled me.”
The charges state the parents’ actions, or lack thereof, were “brutal and heinous ... indicative of wanton cruelty,” factors that could mean they face up to 100 years in prison if convicted.
Lyons also said he might seek the death penalty for the two. State law allows a capital charge if the accused is older than 17 and the victim is younger than 12.
“He died from starvation due to neglect from these two defendants, his parents,” Lyons said, spitting out the last word with contempt.
Circuit Judge Glenn Collier ordered Sargent and Hermann held without bond, pending a hearing this afternoon, when it is expected that Lyons will present more evidence as to why the two should not be released pending trial.
Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Benjamin weighed 10 pounds when he was found by police. He was nearly eight pounds at birth, she said.
Reading from a prepared statement, Lyons said police found the infant sitting in his own waste, all the while strapped into the seat, which was in a crib.
A person who was staying at an unattached garage adjacent to the house had seen Benjamin at some point, thought it was “odd” that he was still on the living room floor after being dropped off and moved him, car seat and all, into the other room.
There Benjamin sat for eight days, most of which both Hermann and Sargent were home, “playing video games, watching TV, feeding and caring for themselves,” Lyons said afterward.
Police had interviewed Sargent, who at first told them he had moved the baby “once or twice,” but later conceded that he might not have moved Benjamin at all during the week, Lyons said.
Hermann’s last contact with her son was the night before police were notified. Then, she allegedly told police she “looked at the baby in the crib and presumed he was sleeping, so she said she stuck a bottle between the baby and the side of the car seat so that when he woke up, he could grab it and feed himself,” Lyons said in open court.
The house, Lyons said, was in complete disarray, with clothing everywhere and spoiled food left out. The temperature in the baby’s room was nearly 80 degrees, he said.
Hermann then left for Iowa to meet with a man she had met over the Internet, the prosecutor said, noting that she allegedly told police “ Benjamin was not her duty and that it was James’ responsibility.” Prosecutors from Lyons’ juvenile division have already begun proceedings to permanently remove Hermann’s 3-year-old daughter from the home.
Death penalty possible for parents charged with murder
By ANDY KRAVETZ
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Published Friday, February 22, 2008
PEORIA — Benjamin Sargent died with his eyes open, fists clenched and strapped into a car seat after eight days without food or water, authorities say.
Photos
http://sj-r.com/photos/full/25672-0222badweb.jpg
The baby's parents, Tracy Hermann and James Sargent, are being held without bond.
Advertisement
The 5-month-old was dropped off at his parents’ house on Feb. 4, wearing a bright-blue snowsuit and strapped into his car seat. Eight days later, he was found in the filth-strewn home in the same position, Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons said Wednesday during a bond hearing for the parents, Tracy D. Hermann, 21, and James E. Sargent, 23, both of Peoria, who are charged with murder for their son’s death.
“It’s the worst case of child neglect we have seen since the turn of this century,” Lyons said afterward. “(On Tuesday), I told (Peoria Police) Chief (Steven) Settingsgaard that this case even rattled me.”
The charges state the parents’ actions, or lack thereof, were “brutal and heinous ... indicative of wanton cruelty,” factors that could mean they face up to 100 years in prison if convicted.
Lyons also said he might seek the death penalty for the two. State law allows a capital charge if the accused is older than 17 and the victim is younger than 12.
“He died from starvation due to neglect from these two defendants, his parents,” Lyons said, spitting out the last word with contempt.
Circuit Judge Glenn Collier ordered Sargent and Hermann held without bond, pending a hearing this afternoon, when it is expected that Lyons will present more evidence as to why the two should not be released pending trial.
Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Benjamin weighed 10 pounds when he was found by police. He was nearly eight pounds at birth, she said.
Reading from a prepared statement, Lyons said police found the infant sitting in his own waste, all the while strapped into the seat, which was in a crib.
A person who was staying at an unattached garage adjacent to the house had seen Benjamin at some point, thought it was “odd” that he was still on the living room floor after being dropped off and moved him, car seat and all, into the other room.
There Benjamin sat for eight days, most of which both Hermann and Sargent were home, “playing video games, watching TV, feeding and caring for themselves,” Lyons said afterward.
Police had interviewed Sargent, who at first told them he had moved the baby “once or twice,” but later conceded that he might not have moved Benjamin at all during the week, Lyons said.
Hermann’s last contact with her son was the night before police were notified. Then, she allegedly told police she “looked at the baby in the crib and presumed he was sleeping, so she said she stuck a bottle between the baby and the side of the car seat so that when he woke up, he could grab it and feed himself,” Lyons said in open court.
The house, Lyons said, was in complete disarray, with clothing everywhere and spoiled food left out. The temperature in the baby’s room was nearly 80 degrees, he said.
Hermann then left for Iowa to meet with a man she had met over the Internet, the prosecutor said, noting that she allegedly told police “ Benjamin was not her duty and that it was James’ responsibility.” Prosecutors from Lyons’ juvenile division have already begun proceedings to permanently remove Hermann’s 3-year-old daughter from the home.