Parents of wandering girl convicted

The parents of a 2-year-old girl who wandered off from their home in July were found guilty Monday in Elgin Branch Court.

Ryan, 30 and Adrienne Seloover, 28, of the 900 block of Larkin Avenue in Elgin, had been charged with endangering the life/safety of a child.

The Seloovers, who have three other children, said in court they held a small get-together on July 16 for a friend and neighbor who had her head shaved before undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. They testified only a bottle of wine and a six-pack of beer were served at the party.

Ryan Seloover rocked the child to sleep and put her to bed in her crib before midnight.

Adrienne Seloover, a nurse at a local hospital, checked on her daughter, who was still sleeping, about three hours later.

The child is believed to have climbed out of her crib, walked downstairs and pushed open three unlocked doors to get outside.

She was found at 6:21 a.m. on July 17 walking near Highland and DuBois avenues wearing only a diaper and was taken to a local hospital.

The Sloovers awoke about 9:30 a.m. and began looking for their daughter.

During court testimony, the Seloovers said their daughter had escaped from her crib about four times before but always wound up in the bed of her parents.

"At no time did they willingly permit her to be endangered; this is not neglect or abuse," said Todd Cohen, the Seloover's attorney.

Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles said, "She was in danger and you are responsible for her and her mistakes," in rendering her guilty verdict.

The Seloovers are required to attend parenting classes and pay a total in $300 in fines and costs.

Both parents were placed on a period of supervision that will last until Sept. 8, 2008.