Death of baby girl in Joliet ruled homicide; mom facing charges

The death of a 9-month-old girl in southwest suburban Joliet has been ruled a homicide, and the girl’s mother is facing charges.

About 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a report of a baby that wasn’t breathing at the Bel-Air Motel, 1103 Plainfield Road, according to Joliet police.

Cherish Freeman, 9 months, was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for treatment, but was later airlifted to Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, where she died at 10:10 p.m. Dec. 24, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Wednesday found she died of blunt force injuries in an assault, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Following a police investigation, the girl’s mother, Shanquilla H. Garvey, 24, was charged with aggravated battery, police said. Her last known address is the motel.

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office was reviewing the case and Garvey’s charges could be upgraded due to her daughter’s death.

A spokeswoman for the state’s Department of Child and Family Services confirmed Tuesday that the agency is investigating the girl’s death for allegations of abuse.

Garvey has been ordered held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility without bond, according to the Will County sheriff’s office. She is due back in court on Jan. 12.