Schaumburg woman pleads not guilty in death of disabled daughter
A Schaumburg woman charged in the death of her severely disabled daughter entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder charges Wednesday.
Bonnie Liltz, 55, is accused of feeding her 28-year-old daughter, Courtney, a combination of prescription and over-the-counter medication in what authorities called a failed murder-suicide attempt. A relative discovered the women alive but unresponsive in their condominium on May 27.
Liltz recovered, but Courtney never regained consciousness and died June 5.
In a suicide note, Liltz, who recently had a recurrence of cancer, wrote she worried about who would care for Courtney if Liltz died first, authorities said. Courtney, who suffered from cerebral palsy, required 24-hour care and had the brain function of a 2- or 3-year-old,
"I can't leave my daughter behind," Liltz wrote in the note, according to police. "If I go first what will happen to her? I don't want her to live in an institution for the rest of her life."
Those fears resurfaced recently after Liltz was hospitalized and Courtney spent about a week in a facility. Liltz's attorney, Thomas Glasgow, has said his client was appalled by the treatment her daughter received at that time.
Through Glasgow, Liltz has asked prosecutors for the return of her laptop, cellphone and Courtney's favorite doll - Ernie from "Sesame Street."
Liltz next appears in court on Aug. 6.