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* Ana Espinosa…
A man’s girlfriend has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 8-year-old daughter earlier this year.
Cynthia Marie Baker (a.k.a. Cynthia Marie Clay), 41, was indicted by a McLean County Grand Jury on Wednesday for three counts of murder, one count of aggravated battery of a child and one count of aggravated domestic battery. […]
According to the indictment, Cynthia allegedly kicked the 8-year-old in the abdomen which resulted in peritonitis due to intestinal perforation from blunt force trauma. […]
Rica’s mother Antionetta Simmons, said she warned DCFS this would happen. She spoke with NewsChannel 20’s reporter Ana Espinosa on the case.
“I begged DCFS in January and I told them I didn’t care where Rica went, but somebody needs to go check on my daughter because they were going to kill her,” Simmons said. “I’m just so hurt that she’s not here. She didn’t even have a chance.”
* From the indictment…
A SEARCH WARRANT WAS EXECUTED ON THE ICLOUD BELONGING TO THE DEFENDANT’S PHONE WHICH REVEALED THE FOLLOWING IN VIDEO FORMAT WHILE R.R. WAS LIVING WITH THE DEFENDANT AT AN APARTMENT LOCATED AT 208 VALLEY VIEW CIRCLE IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS: MAY 26, 2018 - THE DEFENDANT SLAPPED R.R. WHILE R.R. IS STANDING BEHIND A RECLINER ATTEMPTING TO AVOID GOING INTO THE DEFENDANT’S ROOM FOR A PUNISHMENT. THE DEFENDANT SLAPS R.R. AS R.R. IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE DEFENDANT IN ORDER TO AVOID GOING INTO THE DEFENDANT’S ROOM. AUGUST 23, 2018 - THE VIDEO DEPICTS THE DEFENDANT DRAGGING R.R. INTO THE BEDROOM BY HER NECK AS SHE YELLS AT R.R. TO STAND IN HER BEDROOM NAKED HOLDING CANS OUT TO HER SIDE DRIPPING WET AND SHIVERING. LATER R.R. IS STANDING NAKED IN THE DEFENDANT’S BEDROOM HOLDING CANS WHEN THE DEFENDANT COMES BACK INTO THE ROOM AND HITS R.R. ON THE BARE BUTTOCKS SAYING, “MAYBE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH.” SHE THEN ASKS R.R. “WHERE ARE THE CANS SUPPOSED TO BE?” THEN THE DEFENDANT HAS R.R. SHOW HER WITHOUT HOLDING THE CANS. AS R.R. IS DOING SO, THE DEFENDANT SAYS “COLD, AREN’T YA?” AS R.R. IS SHIVERING. LATER, THE DEFENDANT RE-ENTERS THE ROOM AND YELLS AT R.R. FOR NOT KEEPING HER ARMS STRAIGHT OUT. THE DEFENDANT HITS BOTH SIDES OF R.R.’S EARS/FACE ASKING, “DO I NEED A COLLAR FOR YOU?” THEN SHE PUTS HER HANDS AROUND R.R.’S NECK. WHEN R.R. CRIES, “NO” THE DEFENDANT FORCEFULLY PUTS R.R.’S ARMS BACK IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION TO CONTINUE HOLDING THE CANS. THIS GOES ON FOR OVER 23 MINUTES. SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
A VIDEO DEPICTS R.R. HOLDING THE CANS OUT TO HER SIDE IN THE CORNER WHEN THE DEFENDANT COMES UP BEHIND HER ON AND KNEES HER IN THE LOWER RIGHT BACK WITH THE DEFENDANT’S RIGHT KNEE SAYING, “THIS IS STRAIGHT” AS THE DEFENDANT STRAIGHTENS R.R.’S ARMS OUT. FURTHER INTO THE VIDEO, THE DEFENDANT COMES UP BEHIND HER AGAIN AND KNEES HER IN THE LOWER RIGHT BACK WITH THE DEFENDANT’S RIGHT KNEE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. ON THE FOURTH KNEE TO THE BACK, R.R. SCREAMS LIKE SHE IS IN PAIN. LATER IN THE VIDEO, THE DEFENDANT TAKES R.R.’S HEAD WITH BOTH OF HER HANDS AND BANGS IT OFF THE WALL.
I cannot come up with adequate language to describe how that makes me feel.
* DCFS’ sterile statement…
DCFS is deeply saddened by the loss of Rica Rountree. DCFS’ involvement with Rica began in 2014 while she was living with her biological mother and continued after she was removed from her mother’s home and placed with her biological father. During her time with her father, DCFS conducted multiple investigations into allegations of abuse and found these allegations to be unfounded. There is currently a pending investigation into this death and we are committed to understanding exactly what happened in this case and being fully transparent with the public. DCFS is working closely with the new administration to review our practices, policies, and procedures in order to fully live up to our mission to protect vulnerable children in Illinois.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:10 am
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What is wrong with people. Who would do this to a child. I cannot comprehend this.
Comment by L.A. Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:18 am
I’m not an angry person but this enrages me to no end.
Comment by Tony Kendall Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:18 am
This makes me sick to my stomach.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:29 am
How many more horror stories like this will we be compelled to read before this abuse and neglect ends? These are our children, our neighbors children and the children in our communities.
Comment by illini Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:29 am
These stories keep bringing back horrible memories for my wife and me from when we were foster parents. We fostered a young boy up until he was 18 months old; we were supposed to adopt him, but the mother’s caseworker thought otherwise. When he would come back from unsupervised visits with her, he would have bruises on his neck (apparently from being grabbed by the shirt collar) and arms; his backpack would be in the daycare yard because it came back filled with roaches.
Her caseworker said she deserved another “shot” at raising a child, even though she had already lost two children for physical abuse (either on her part or by allowing her current live-in boyfriend to abuse the children). She got the boy back, as I said, after 18 months of his living with us. My family was devastated.
Two years later, I ran into one of the caseworkers; she recognized me and asked if we had ever heard any more about the boy. When I said no and that we were not allowed to know anything once the foster case was considered disposed, she looked at me and simply said, “Well, all I can tell you is, we made a huge mistake. I can’t say any more, but we made a huge mistake.”
And the DCFS horror still continues to this day.
Comment by Silent Budgeteer Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:43 am
and what is the adequate punishment for this person upon conviction? Under one legislative proposals, after age 50 (in nine years) and 20 years served, she’d be eligible for a parole at age 61. Call me callous, but that doesn’t seem like near enough for this kind of brutality to a child. But in 20 years, this woman will have defenders whereas Rica will be all but forgotten except to a few family members, and hopefully, the People’s representative from McLean County.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:44 am
They filmed this, they felt the need and desire to film this. I can’t comprehend what was going on in their heads, nor do I want to.
I know we are supposed to be better people than wanting vengance. But man I would like some vengance.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:44 am
Were charges were brought against the father too? He (not the girlfriend) was responsible for Rica’s health, safety, and well-being.
While I object to capital punishment, I would be hard-pressed to find anything redeemable in Cynthia Baker (nee Clay).
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:54 am
I would be surprised if this was Cynthia’s first effort at her sick idea of discipline. The “boyfriend and child’s father” probably knew Cynthia’s discipline tactics.
The father needs to be right behind her when justice is handed down.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 11:57 am
Jocko -
The girlfriend was living in the home, she was a caregiver.
Hard to understand why dad has not been charged.
Also looking forward to reading the OIG report on this one.
How many hotline calls is “multiple”?
Seems like DCFS is trying to paint mom as the Boy Who Cried Wolf. That is just cruel. A cheap shot against a grieving mom.
I hope she has hired a lawyer.
Comment by Plugging Away Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 12:03 pm
In a civil society we just do not have the punishments that are fitting in these circumstances.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 12:06 pm
I feel nauseated and my stomach is empty. How can such a person be qualified to serve as a foster parent?
The fact pattern seems somewhat similar to the child murder in McHenry County where a boy was put into a cold shower as part of his abuse. These child abusers are pure evil.
Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 12:08 pm
Nearly unbearable to read.
Could we consider some form of a safe haven law to allow parents of children older than 30 days an option as well? I don’t pretend to believe that effectively abandoning an 8-year-old wouldn’t be traumatic for the child, but I’m for just about anything that ends stories like this.
Comment by The Big Salad Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 12:44 pm
I say, in addition to conviction for murder of a child, abuse like this of an 8-year-old child, perhaps we consider mandated sterilization - or, of course, a return of the death penalty.
Comment by Little Changes Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:10 pm
This is not parenting, this is hatred of a little girl. Where was the father in all of this. This cannot be the only time she did this type of thing. I am so mad right now I can’t think straight.
Comment by pool boy Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:21 pm
I couldn’t keep reading. As a parent it just rips out your guts. I don’t understand people sometimes.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:31 pm
DCFS statement boils down to, “Because the women said she didn’t do it, even with evidence to the contrary, we unfounded it.”
Comment by Bud Keyes Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:37 pm
New investigation technique by DCFS… If the parent says they didn’t do it, end the investigation.
Comment by Bud Keyes Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:38 pm
The director at this time, BJ Walker, said that DCFS has too many rules and procedures… now all of a sudden they need to be followed??
Comment by Bud Keyes Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 1:42 pm
There are no words that can describe what these people deserve.
Comment by common_sense Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 2:13 pm
This is when I wish we could reinstall the death penalty in Illinois. People who kill children don’t deserve any sympathy.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:23 pm
Once she gets to prison the cons will tear her up. She is going to have to be in protective custody for the rest of her life. the death penalty is too good for her.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:17 pm
Close the parks, close the museums, shut down IDOT, do whatever it takes to free up the necessary funds. Change the laws regarding child custody, but for crying out loud, care enough to take care of these kids. DCFS is an endless horror story.
Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:20 pm
So I see that a lot of you are angry. I get it. I’m angry too. But look, Cynthia Baker was treated the same way by her parents. Had poor little Rica Roundtree survived she would have done the same to her child and then instead of feeling sorry for her you would be calling for her torture and death.
So the problem is the concept: causing pain and death makes the world a better place. This whole concept is poisonous. Like Arsenic it is everywhere. It can exist in different form and intensities but it is always toxic. So instead of spreading poison how about just stop dealing in poison. Don’t harbor it, don’t sell it, don’t give it away in a box with a pretty bow. Just stop. No more poison will make the world a less poisonous place.
Comment by Toxin free at last Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 6:18 am