Owner of daycare center where boy died denies lying to police
The owner of a Lincolnshire day care center where a young boy died earlier this year pleaded not guilty Wednesday to lying to police investigating the death.
Judith Katz, 64, faces up to three years in prison if convicted of obstruction of justice.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Stephen Scheller said Katz, of the 2600 block of North Pine Avenue in Arlington Heights, is the owner of the Minee Subee in the Park day care centers in Lincolnshire, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. On Jan. 14, 16-month-old Benjamin Kingan of Deerfield died after being injured at the Lincolnshire facility.
Authorities have charged 22-year-old Melissa Calusinski of Carpentersville, a teacher's assistant, with first-degree murder for allegedly throwing Benjamin to the floor because she was upset.
Scheller said detectives from the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force were repeatedly told there were two adults in the room where Benjamin was injured, in keeping with regulations of the state Department of Children and Family Services.
However, Scheller said, investigators eventually learned Calusinski was the only adult in the room, and they believe Katz lied to them about the situation and instructed other employees to do so as well.
Circuit Judge John Phillips scheduled a trial of the case for Sept. 28 and ordered Katz, who was released after posting $10,000 for bond, to appear court Aug. 7.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=297">Authorities close day care center </a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=282747">Lincolnshire day care owner charged with obstruction in child's death<span class="date">[3/30/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=273430">Lincolnshire day care worker pleads not guilty in boy's death <span class="date">[2/20/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=271418">Lake Co. daycare worker charged in death faces life behind bars <span class="date">[2/19/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=268395">Lincolnshire day care center where child died closed <span class="date">[1/30/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=266478">Woman accused in day-care murder 'scared and nervous' <span class="date">[1/22/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=265385">Lincolnshire day care where child died open for business <span class="date">[1/19/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=265296">Carpentersville woman charged in infant's death <span class="date">[1/18/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>