Mother pleads not guilty to murder

A Waukegan woman charged with stabbing her 6-year-old daughter to death pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County circuit court.

Nelly Vazquez-Salazar, 25, faces possible life in prison if convicted of the murder of Evelyn Vazquez.

Police said they were called to Vazquez-Salazar's apartment just before 5 a.m. on April 7 by a neighbor who said the suspect was pounding on her door.

When police arrived, Vazquez-Salazar led them back to her own apartment, where the girl's body was found on the bedroom floor.

Coroner's officials said the girl had been stabbed a total of 11 times in her neck, face and arms and had been dead for several hours before police were called.

Police said Vazquez-Salazar told them several different stories about the incident, including trying to convince them she believed her daughter was possessed by a demon.

She finally admitted she was awakened by her daughter, then grabbed a knife the child was holding and began stabbing her, police said.

Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti scheduled a trial for July 14 and ordered Vazquez-Salazar to appear in court again June 30.

Vazquez-Salazar is being held in the Lake County jail on $5 million bond.