PEKIN, Ill. – A Pekin woman will go to prison for nine years after pleading guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of her young daughter.
Tazewell County Circuit Court records indicate Angel Vanduker, 20, received the sentence Friday — moved up in order to accommodate an upcoming birth of a baby that will be placed in Illinois Department of Children and Family Services custody. Vanduker’s other children are also in DCFS custody.
Vanduker smothered her 11-month-old daughter Nova in September of 2020 — according to a court affidavit — because she was frustrated after attempting to get little Nova to lay down with her.
25 News reports Vanduker apologized for the death, to both her family and Nova’s father, Austin Tucker.
Tucker said in court he sleeps with his daughter’s ashes next to him.
Vanduker could have faced as much as 14 years in prison, and must serve at least half her sentence before she can be released. She already has credit for 411 days served in jail.
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