Belleville woman is accused of inflicting head injuries that killed her 7-month-old son
A woman was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of her 7-month-old boy at a home in Belleville.
Peanna S. Porter, 25, of 315 Hillcrest Drive, Belleville also was charged with endangering the life/health of a child and obstructing justice.
The baby, Richard Bowker III, was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m. Friday at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.
Police were sent to a home at the 300 block of Hillcrest Drive on Friday at 1:45 p.m. after a caller reported the baby was unconscious and not breathing, Belleville Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Heffernan said. Officers performed CPR until medics arrived.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services also responded.
Investigators searched the home after obtaining a search warrant through the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office and an autopsy was performed Sunday.
“It was determined the child’s death was suspicious in nature,” Heffernan said earlier this week.
He said Wednesday that the autopsy revealed the child ``died as a result of craniocerebral injury.”
The charging documents from the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office allege Porter killed her son by inflicting the head injuries, knowing that “such an act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.”
The documents also allege Porter failed to get medical care for her son after he suffered head injuries.
The obstruction of justice charge is the result of Porter allegedly destroying or concealing physical evidence. The document says Porter initiated a factory reset of her cellular phone.
Heffernan said Porter was arrested Monday. She was to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon and moved from the Belleville jail to the St. Clair County Jail. Her bail is set at $1 million.
The Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force is assisting Belleville police in the investigation.
This story was originally published April 26, 2023 at 3:28 PM.
