Manuela Rodriguez / Photo from Chicago Police
BY SUN-TIMES STAFF
A 52-year-old woman has been charged with murder after her 7-month-old granddaughter’s neck was slashed with a circular saw in the Little Village neighborhood on Monday.
Manuela Rodriguez, of the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Investigators suspect the woman used the saw to stop 7-month-old Rose Herrera from crying, authorities said.
Family members told authorities the woman, who had been taking care of Rose in the house, had been taking antidepressant medication.
Authorities responding to a 911 call arrived at the home about 9:30 a.m. Monday and found the baby dead on the scene, police said.
A police source said the grandmother stuffed a sock in the girl’s mouth, struck her in the head with a pipe wrench, then cut her neck and shoulder with the circular saw. She then cut her own neck with the saw.
A Tuesday autopsy determined she died of blunt force injuries to the head, with suffocation from a sock being placed in her mouth a contributing factor, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.
She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with the self-inflicted wounds, police said. Her condition had stabilized.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has no record of previous contact with the family, spokeswoman Veronica Resa said, citing initial reports.
Ben Llamas stood outside the home on Avers Monday morning. He said his best friend, who shows him pictures of his baby every day, lives in the house.
Llamas, who works with his friend at a grain elevator, said his pal became distraught after receiving a phone call Monday.
“He seemed upset. I said, ‘You can’t drive.’ So I brought him here.’ ”
Llamas said his friend moved into that house about a year ago with a woman, and her parents live there as well.
A neighbor said the family lives on the second floor of the building, while the owners of the property live on the first floor.
Scene where a baby was found dead / Photo by Stefano Esposito