A 19-year-old Evanston woman has been charged with a felony for hiding the death of her newborn, Evanston police said in a news release.
Layarria Searcy, of the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue gave birth to a live girl on Aug. 25, police said.
Shortly after birth, the girl died. Searcy disposed of the baby’s remains in a garbage receptacle, per police, who searched for the remains but did not find them.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office routinely determines an individual’s cause of death by performing autopsies, but in the absence of a body, they have no way to glean information about the cause and manner of death.
The infant’s cause of death remains unknown, per police.
According to police, Searcy did not report her infant’s death to the authorities and took steps to conceal the incident.
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office reviewed the findings of the investigation and indicted Searcy on one felony count of concealment of a death, per police.
Per Cook County Circuit Court records, an individual named Lacara Reckley was named as a co-defendant in the case, and is also charged with concealing a death.
Reckley, 43, resides at the same address as Searcy, according to court records. Evanston police declined to comment on their relationship.
Police also did not comment on why there was a delay between the August death and the November charges.
Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said the investigation remains active, and anticipates being able to say more about it after it concludes.
Cook County Judge Lorraine Murphy on Nov. 19 granted Searcy a pre-trial release, meaning she was not detained in custody, per court records.
Searcy is due back in court for a status hearing on Jan. 9 and Reckley will have her next status hearing Dec. 20. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.