Carrie Johnson, grandmother of 2-year-old Molly Koch, who was found beaten in October in a St. Charles hotel room, talks about her granddaughter and how she wants to protect the girl.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Molly Koch, 2, remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in an October beating. At top, Molly is seen in her Sunday best last spring. Above she is seen on her birthday in November at Children's Memorial Hospital with her grandmother Carrie Johnson.

Photos Courtesy of Carrie Johnson

Molly Koch in her Sunday best last spring.

Carrie Johnson holds a photo of her granddaughter, Molly, on her birthday in November.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Carrie Johnson of Elgin discusses the circumstances surrounding her 2-year-old granddaughter, Molly Koch.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Carrie Johnson, grandmother of 2-year-old Molly Koch, discusses the life of her granddaughter.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Carrie Johnson, grandmother of 2-year-old Molly Koch, digs through a pile of her photos of Molly to tell the story of the little girl, who remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in an October beating.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Molly Koch loves animals, her grandmother says.

Courtesy of Carrie Johnson

Molly Koch, 2, on her birthday in November at Children's Memorial Hospital. Her grandmother, Carrie Johnson, is with her.

Courtesy of Carrie Johnson

Molly Koch playing outside last summer.

Courtesy of Carrie Johnson

Carrie Johnson made a poster of pictures of her granddaughter, Molly Koch, playing outside to hang in her hospital room.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Carrie Johnson of Elgin discuses what she plans to do to help protect her granddaughter and other children from the same fate. Molly was beaten so severely she suffered broken bones and head trauma, which caused her brain to swell. The little girl remains hospitalized nearly three months after the beating.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Carrie Johnson keeps a horrible picture on her cell phone. It shows a bruised 2-year-old girl whose head is swollen, crushed by what police say was the hand of Johnson’s daughter’s boyfriend. It’s that image that has Johnson fighting for a legal path to obtain custody of Molly. It fuels the pain that has Johnson determined to put her own daughter behind bars. Molly Koch now lies at Children’s Memorial Hospital. She’s awaiting a Feb. 10 surgery to replace the portion of her skull doctors removed after the beating police say she suffered in a St. Charles hotel room. On the morning of Oct. 27, the only thoughts Johnson had were of fueling her granddaughter’s love of animals by taking her to the zoo that weekend.