Police: Mother Killed Son Because He Wouldn't Stop Crying
Nicole Harris, 23, of 2004 N. LaPorte Ave., was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Jaquier Dancy, who died Saturday.
Harris and the boy's father told police they found Dancy between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the floor of their home next to a bunk bed, Harper said.
The boy was in "grave condition" when he was rushed to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, Shakespeare District Officer John Dwyer said. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
Despite an autopsy Sunday that determined Dancy was hanged in an accident, police on Monday reclassified the death as a homicide, police News Affairs Officer Patrice Harper said.
Police say Harris admitted that she got angry with her two sons after she left them home alone while she went to the laundromat with instructions to stay indoors. When she returned and found the boys outside, she took both of them into their apartment and beat them with a belt.
NBC5's Darren Kramer said Harris told police that Dancy would not stop crying, so she beat him a second time. When he continued to cry, Harris said she grabbed an elastic sheet from a nearby bed and strangled him until he fell silent.
Kramer said she then returned to the laundromat.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokeswoman Kim Broome said the agency received a call to its hotline at 9:33 p.m. Saturday about the boy's death. DCFS had no prior contact with the family before the boy's death, she said.
The victim's surviving 5-year-old brother was placed in the custody of his grandmother.
DCFS would continue to investigate Dancy's death for allegations of abuse, Broome said.
Family members who attended Harris' bond hearing on Monday were stunned by the accusation.
"I've seen her with those kids. I've helped her with those kids," said the suspect's cousin, Wanda Harris. "She's always huggin' them and kissin' them, even more than me, and I love both of them to death."
Nicole Harris' sister, Contrina Cosey, said the crime is "absolutely ludicrous."
"I cannot believe Nicole did this. Absolutely not! It is crazy," Cosey said. "I know Nicole. Nicole would never, ever do that."
Kramer said that Harris had just gotten her college degree in psychology and was working with mentally challenged seniors at a nursing home.
Nicole Harris, 23, of 2004 N. LaPorte Ave., was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Jaquier Dancy, who died Saturday.
Harris and the boy's father told police they found Dancy between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the floor of their home next to a bunk bed, Harper said.
The boy was in "grave condition" when he was rushed to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, Shakespeare District Officer John Dwyer said. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
Despite an autopsy Sunday that determined Dancy was hanged in an accident, police on Monday reclassified the death as a homicide, police News Affairs Officer Patrice Harper said.
Police say Harris admitted that she got angry with her two sons after she left them home alone while she went to the laundromat with instructions to stay indoors. When she returned and found the boys outside, she took both of them into their apartment and beat them with a belt.
NBC5's Darren Kramer said Harris told police that Dancy would not stop crying, so she beat him a second time. When he continued to cry, Harris said she grabbed an elastic sheet from a nearby bed and strangled him until he fell silent.
Kramer said she then returned to the laundromat.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokeswoman Kim Broome said the agency received a call to its hotline at 9:33 p.m. Saturday about the boy's death. DCFS had no prior contact with the family before the boy's death, she said.
The victim's surviving 5-year-old brother was placed in the custody of his grandmother.
DCFS would continue to investigate Dancy's death for allegations of abuse, Broome said.
Family members who attended Harris' bond hearing on Monday were stunned by the accusation.
"I've seen her with those kids. I've helped her with those kids," said the suspect's cousin, Wanda Harris. "She's always huggin' them and kissin' them, even more than me, and I love both of them to death."
Nicole Harris' sister, Contrina Cosey, said the crime is "absolutely ludicrous."
"I cannot believe Nicole did this. Absolutely not! It is crazy," Cosey said. "I know Nicole. Nicole would never, ever do that."
Kramer said that Harris had just gotten her college degree in psychology and was working with mentally challenged seniors at a nursing home.
