Grandmother Charged In Murder Of 7-Month-Old Girl
(CBS) -- A 52-year-old woman has been charged with killing her infant granddaughter, after allegedly slashing the girl's neck with a power saw in the Little Village neighborhood.
Manuela Rodriguez, of the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of 7-month-old Rose Herrera.
An autopsy determined Rose died from blunt force trauma to the head, with suffocation from a sock placed in her mouth listed as a contributing factor, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Police have said Rodriguez used a power saw to cut Rose's throat.
A spokesman for the county said, although Rose had suffered slashing wounds, those injuries did not contribute to her death. Police have said investigators believe the Rodriguez killed the child to get her to stop crying. Rose was found dead at Rodriguez's home Monday night.
Family members have said Rodriguez had been caring for the child at the time, and had been taking antidepressant medication, according to a police source.
Rodriguez was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with self-inflicted wounds on Monday, but has since been released into police custody.
She was due to appear for a bond hearing at noon Wednesday.
