MACOUPIN COUNTY, (WAND)- A Carlinville woman pleaded not guilty in court last week, after being charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Endangering the Life of a Child causing Death.
According to the Macoupin County State's Attorney, Ashley N. Bottoms pleaded not guilty to the charges against her during her court appearance last week.
She's due back for a pre-trial appearance on January 18, 2023.
Bottom was arrested on October 20, after police found the body of a 3-year-old toddler.
According to a post from the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office, a report was made on Oct. 20 at the Litchfield fire station that a minor child was in distress. It was discovered minutes later that the child was dead. The initial investigation was handled by the Litchfield Police Department.
Multiple search warrants have taken place with the assistance of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney Office and interviews were done at the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department by detectives from Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department and the Litchfield Police Department.
Bottoms bond was set at $250,000.
DCFS issued the following statement regarding the incident on Oct. 28:
“The Department of Children and Family Services is deeply committed to protecting vulnerable children and strengthening families, and the loss of any child is tragic. A court ordered that the child be reunified with his father in August, after a service plan and home safety checklist was completed. A case worker visited the home six times in September and October to ensure the child was in a safe environment.”
Macoupin County State's Attorney Garrison also spoke out previously regarding the events:
“Crimes against children are, by their very nature, some of the worst crimes, with perpetrators leaving families destroyed by their actions. It is alleged that this defendant, a trusted household member, committed this horrific act. I would like to thank Sheriff Shawn Kahl, Chief David Haley, and Chief Kenneth Ryker for their agencies coordinated effort. I would also like to thank Detectives Ryan Dixon, Brian Lawton, Brian Reid and Larry Rayburn for their swift actions leading to these charges."
A charging document released by the Macoupin County State's Attorney's Office, claimed that Bottoms broke up a fight between two minors in such a way that the 3-year-old's head struck a ledge causing a brain bleed and drove the minor in a vehicle for more than three hours during which time the child died of the head injury.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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