PEORIA, Ill. (TCN) — A 25-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after her 1-month-old son died from being left in a hot car without any food or hydration for an extended period of time.
On the evening of Sept. 16, the Peoria Police Department received a call about a deceased child on the 2400 block of North Peoria Avenue. Officers arrived at the scene and saw the baby was unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. In an update, Peoria Police announced they arrested the child’s mother, Andrea Luncsford, for endangering the health and life of a child, but Peoria County Jail records show she is also being charged with first-degree murder.
The Peoria County Coroner identified the victim as Grayson Luncsford and said the newborn died from “gross neglect due to severe hyperthermia (exposure to extreme heat) and profound dehydration.” Police are investigating how long Grayson Luncsford was left in the car without food and drink.
According to WMBD-TV, police said Grayson Luncsford had most likely been “dead for a while.” WMBD reports Andrea Luncsford’s father and other relatives were concerned about her behavior and tried to get her to leave her newborn with her dad. She allegedly attempted to leave in a U-Haul van, but her family prevented her from fleeing. They took the child from the truck, but he was already deceased.
Andrea Luncsford’s father reportedly texted her, “You know that baby can overheat and die, please let us help you, from dad to mom.”
Police noted Andrea Luncsford had been behaving “erratically.” She reportedly later tested positive for cocaine.
WMBD reports the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had been in prior communication with Luncsford over concerns about “substantial risk of physical injury or environment.”
Luncsford could face up to 100 years in prison if she is convicted.