NORTH LAWNDALE — The mother of a baby who was found dead in a North Lawndale home Wednesday afternoon has been charged with child endangerment, police said.
Erica Hampton, 25, of the 3700 block of West 13th Street, was charged Thursday with two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and one felony count of child endangerment resulting in death, police said.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is conducting its own investgation and is investigating the mother of 7-month-old Lamya Hampton for neglect.
When emergency responders arrived at an apartment in the 3700 block of West 13th Street about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, they found the infant unresponsive, authorities said.
The child was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 4:03 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Lamya's two sisters, ages 2 and 6, were also found in the apartment. The two girls were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for a checkup and appear to be OK. DCFS took the two girls into protective custody, a spokesperson said. DCFS has had no prior reports against the family.
"It's hard to believe. It's a good family," said Tierra Stamps, 28, who has lived across the street for 21 years. "People in the neighborhood are saying the baby was in a car seat with a snow suit on. I saw a neighbor come out of the building, flagging a car down, crying."
"I saw the fire department bring the baby out in their hands ... she was normal except lifeless, her arms were dangling at her sides," Stamps said. "I was shocked at it happening around here. It was heartbreaking, it was a baby — a human being."
