Mother pleads not guilty in newborn's death

MARSHALL -- An eastern Illinois woman has pleaded not guilty to charges that accuse her of drowning her newborn baby.

Cayla Wheeler will go trial on September 12 after entering her plea Wednesday in a Marshall courtroom.

Wheeler is charged with first-degree murder, concealing a homicidal death and arson in the July 2 death of her infant son. Court and police records refer to the child only as Baby Boy Wheeler.

Police discovered the baby's body in a forested area near Wheeler's home in Westfield while investigating a fire at the house. Wheeler is charged with setting the fire, too.

Westfield is about 50 miles southeast of Champaign.