Photo: Missing Person Awareness Network NFP
An Illinois woman has been convicted of murder for abusing her 8-year-old stepdaughter to death.
On Tuesday, a McLean County jury found 41-year-old Cynthia Baker guilty of murder, aggravated battery, endangering the life of a child and domestic battery in the death of Rica Rountree,WGLT,News25andWMBDreport.
Baker was arrested in May, four months after Rica, her stepdaughter, died in a Peoria hospital.
After her death, Baker was questioned but denied ever hurting the girl, according to the station.
During Baker’s trial, the jury was shownmultiple videos, including one of Baker kneeing Ricain the back before hitting her head against the wall, 25 News reports.
“For most, it’s unthinkable but for Rica, it was normal,” Erika Reynolds, McLean County Assistant State’s Attorney, said during closing arguments Monday. “In the 407 Stanhope residence, Rica was treated as less than as this defendant’s punching bag and her pain served as entertainment for the entire family.”
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The doctor who performed Rica’s autopsy reported that she had slowly died from internal injuries after Baker kicked her in the stomach. He also reported that the girl had 67 marks as a result of extensive abuse all over her body.
“Everybody failed her. I failed her,” Simmons, who is currently serving 2.5 years in prison for a forgery case and for failing to complete the terms of her probation on an aggravated DUI charge, told the station.
According to DCFS, Rica died 16 days after her mother was sentenced. Rica is one of 103 children who have died this year while involved with DCFS in Illinois, WGLT reports.
Simmons criticized DCFS, saying, “My daughter should have not have ever died. It should have never been this way.”
In a statement to WGLT, DCFS said Rica’s case was under investigation.
Baker is set to be sentenced in February.
source: people.com
