A 25-year-old woman, Andrea Luncsford, is facing a murder charge after her 1-month-old son, Grayson, tragically died from being left in a hot car without any food or water for an extended period.
Peoria Police responded to a call on September 16th about a deceased child. They arrived to find the baby unconscious and not breathing. The Peoria County Coroner determined the cause of death as severe hyperthermia and profound dehydration due to gross neglect.
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Police are currently investigating how long Grayson was left unattended in the vehicle. Reports suggest he had been deceased for a while before being discovered.
According to WMBD-TV, Luncsford’s family had been worried about her behavior and tried to intervene, even preventing her from leaving with the baby in a U-Haul van. They eventually took Grayson from the vehicle, but it was too late.
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Luncsford’s erratic behavior and a positive test for cocaine have been noted by the police. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had previous contact with her over concerns about the child’s safety.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Luncsford could face up to 100 years in prison.
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