Manslaughter charges dropped against Aurora mom

Kane County prosecutors recently dismissed charges against a 38-year-old Aurora woman who was accused of killing her 14-month-old daughter last summer.

“The case is still under investigation,” First Assistant State’s Attorney Jody Gleason said.

Gloria Gomez, who had been staying in Aurora while receiving assistance from a church, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in June.

If convicted, Gomez faced up to seven years in prison. Court records show the charge was dismissed earlier this month.

Gleason declined further comment, but authorities could always reinstate the charges, levy more serious charges or charge others in the case. There is no statute of limitations for murder.

With the involuntary manslaughter charge, prosecutors did not have to prove that Gomez intended to kill her offspring.

Authorities said Gomez admitted to striking the baby, who was found during an autopsy to have a hemorrhage in her throat, a lacerated liver, two lacerated kidneys and three broken ribs.

Gomez and four of her kids were renting a room at a home on the 1000 block of Bryant Street in Aurora Township.

A juvenile from another family staying at the home called 911 at about 2:45 a.m. June 23 after the baby was unresponsive and not breathing.

The attorney who represented Gomez could not be reached for comment.

Aurora cops honored: Three Aurora Police officers and a 911 telecommunications operator recently were honored as the department’s Employees of the Month for September and October.Officer Peter Wullbrandt and telecommunications operator Kathi Hart split honors for September.They worked together Aug. 12 to save a man. Hart gave CPR instructions to the family of the man after they called 911 and Wullbrandt arrived on the scene to continue CPR for about two minutes until paramedics arrived. Hart is a 12-year department veteran and Wullbrandt has been on the force for five years.Officers Aaron Spooner and Andrew Martin were honored in October for their efforts to help a 74-year-old man Sept. 29.The officers responded to a home on the city#146;s far east side to check the condition of the man who had called 911 but couldn#146;t speak and sounded to operators like he was having trouble breathing.There was no response after officers knocked on the door, so Spooner and Martin forced their way into the house and found the man unconscious and not breathing. They began CPR, and while the man was being transported to the hospital, they worked with a neighbor to repair the home#146;s damaged door. The man later died at a hospital.Spooner and Martin both joined the department in 2008.#147;The actions of all four of these dedicated employees were in the finest traditions of the Aurora Police Department,#148; Chief Greg Thomas said.