Father gets 24 years for killing girl

A former Round Lake Beach man will spend 24 years in prison for murdering his 2-month-old daughter, placing her body in a tool bag and leaving it off the Edens Expressway.

Gerardo Hernandez, 31, received the sentence Wednesday during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, pleaded guilty in June to suffocating his daughter, Juanita. In return for the plea, prosecutors agreed to a sentence of no more than 40 years behind bars.

"I have discovered Christ's love, and it is never too late to go back to the right path," Hernandez told Foreman through an interpreter before the sentence was imposed.

Lake County prosecutors said Hernandez suffocated 2-month-old Juanita for unknown reasons at the family home in Round Lake Beach on March 21, 2005. He then left with the body and his 2-year-old daughter.

Family members in Mount Prospect wound up with the 2-year-old girl the next day. Then, on March 25, 2005, a caller notified Mount Prospect police where Juanita's body could be found.

Authorities discovered the body in the tool bag where Tower Road crosses the Edens Expressway.

Hernandez fled to Mexico, but authorities captured him in August 2005 and eventually returned him to Lake County. He's been in the county jail since then on a $5 million bond.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Eric Kalata, who prosecuted the case, asked Foreman to impose a significant prison sentence.

Kalata said Hernandez is an illegal immigrant with a history of using fake names and was on probation for theft when the murder occurred. Kalata also took a dim view of Hernandez's tears in court.

"The tears need to be shed for Juanita and her life, which was wrongfully snuffed out by the rash actions of the defendant," he said.

Hernandez's public defender, Jennifer Snyder, said her client didn't deserve more than 22 years behind bars, in part, because he took responsibility for his actions.

Snyder said Hernandez is a good father and hard worker who surprised friends and family by killing Juanita.

"I think that speaks volumes about his character," she said.

Foreman said Hernandez committed an irrational act and reacted poorly by dumping the body off the expressway. The judge said Hernandez didn't attempt to revive Juanita or call emergency authorities.

"I struggle finding a motive for this," he said.

Hernandez likely will be deported to Mexico after completing his prison sentence, Foreman said.