Mother Accused Of Burning Body Of Abused, Neglected 4-Year-Old To Hide Death

By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 5, 2016 4:51PM

A 4-year-old boy whose body was found in the basement of a burning building in Englewood earlier this week had previously been abused and neglected, prosecutors told reporters, and his mother didn't report his death because she didn't want her other children taken away. When authorities recovered the boy's body Tuesday night, it was so small and malnourished, he was thought to be a 9-month-old baby.

Alyssa Garcia, 27, Christian Camarena, 19, and a 17-year-old male have been charged with felony concealment of death and attempted arson, involving the death of 4-year-old Manuel Aguilar, the Cook County State's Attorney's office confirmed to Chicagoist Friday.

Cook County assistant state's attorney Jamie Santini reportedly told a Cook County judge Thursday that the boy had been kept in a back room, often naked, for about a year, starved and beaten. His mother had previously been investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In 2012, Garcia was put under supervision for 18 months for endangering the life of a child. This week, she told investigators that she didn't seek medical attention for her son when she saw he wasn't breathing because she was afraid her children would be taken away into protective custody again. After the 4-year-old's body was found, DCFS took custody of the woman's five other children, the Tribune says.

The mother and her male teenage friend are being held on $2 million and $1 million bonds, respectively, the State's Attorney's office said. They will appear in court again on Aug. 23 at noon. The 17-year-old is in juvenile custody and will appear in court again on Aug. 26.