PEKIN, Ill. – A Pekin woman accused of suffocating a baby will remain in jail as she awaits trial.
25 News reports a Tazewell County judge ruled Thursday that 21-year-old Makenna Rhodes could still be a threat.
The judge also believed Rhodes’ family could still bring her three-month-old baby to her to breastfeed, and believes she could be suffering from postpartum depression.
Court documents allege Rhodes on June 26th pressed a small security blanket with an attached stuffed animal against the ten-month-old baby’s face, and forced a pacifier into her mouth.
Rhodes allegedly told police she held the blanket against the baby’s face until her eyes closed.
She also told police she was overwhelmed and angry after trying to get the baby to nap four times, but the baby was fussy and fighting sleep.
A forensic pathologist cites asphyxiation as the cause of death. Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley says he is not ready to release the name of the baby, until more information comes from the autopsy.
Rhodes is charged with First Degree Murder, with her next court appearance on August 15th.
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