Beach Park woman pleads guilty to child endangerment in son's death
A Beach Park woman whose infant son was killed by the baby's father was sentenced to pay $1,326 in court fines Monday after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of child endangerment in Lake County court.
Assistant State's Attorney Jim Newman said prosecutors did not request jail time or probation for Aurora Escamilla, 20, formerly of Zion, because she "cooperated fully with our office," and was willing to testify against her former boyfriend, Victor Salinas-Corona, 18.
Salinas-Corona pleaded guilty July 1 to one count of first-degree murder for striking the infant's head Feb. 26, 2013.
Authorities said Salinas-Corona was alone with his 5-month-old son, Ayden, when he became enraged because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
Salinas-Corona wrapped the infant tightly in a blanket, then struck the infant's head on the side of a metal crib, Newman said. The hit caused Ayden to suffer a large skull fracture, Newman said.
Escamilla was at work when the attack took place, authorities said.
Ayden died at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan early the next morning.
Escamilla was charged by authorities after she admitted she had left the baby with Salinas-Corona, even though he had hurt the infant in the past, authorities said.
Salinas-Corona is due to be sentenced to 20 years to 30 years in prison Thursday.