Parents charged in baby’s death

First-degree murder charges have been filed against the parents of a 5-month-old girl who authorities say was smothered by her father to stop her crying.

Cook County prosecutors originally charged 29-year-old Rigoberto Rodriguez and 21-year-old Angela Petrov of Chicago with aggravated battery after the baby was injured April 11 in their home. The charges were upgraded Friday to murder after the girl’s death this week. The parents are being held in lieu of $5 million bail.

At a Sunday hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Buck said the couple were drinking when their daughter, who was sleeping in her playpen, began to cry. After Petrov’s efforts to quiet the baby failed, Rodriguez put the girl on a bed and put his hand over her mouth until she stopped crying and went limp, prosecutors said.