COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Bond was set Friday at $250,000 for the mother of a baby found dead after being left alone in a North Lawndale apartment.
Lamya Hampton, 7 months, died from overheating and dehydration, prosecutors said Thursday.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Donald Panarese Jr. set the bond for Erica Hampton, 25, of the 3700 block of West 13th Street, who allegedly left her daughter and her two other children alone in the apartment.
Hampton is charged with two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and one felony count of child endangerment resulting in death.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is conducting its own investigation into the death of 7-month-old Lamya Hampton.
According to prosecutors, the mother was not at home Wednesday when one of her other children went to a neighbor seeking food.
When emergency responders arrived at an apartment in the 3700 block of West 13th Street about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, they found the infant unresponsive, authorities said. The apartment was hot and the child was found strapped into a car seat, said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Elizabeth Dibler.
The child was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital. Dibler said the baby's temperature was 100.6 degrees.
Lamya's two sisters, ages 2 and 6, were also found in the apartment. DCFS took the two girls into protective custody, a spokesperson said.
The mother was found nearby a short time later. Dibler said Hampton had recently gotten a job at a K-Mart making $8.25 an hour.
"It's hard to believe. It's a good family," said Tierra Stamps, 28, who has lived across the street for 21 years. She said she 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."
Editor's note: This article contains corrected information about the baby's temperature.
