Two individuals find themselves facing charges in Edgar County following the death of a nearly 2 year old girl (23 months) from Paris. This part is tough to hear… but investigators say they waited upwards of 32 hours before seeking medical attention for severe burns the child had sustained, presumably under the pair’s care.
Payton M. Beaver and Courtney N. Heath have both been charged with “endangering the life of a child resulting in death,” from incidents that occurred on September 20th and 21st. According to court documents, the two knowingly caused the life of a child (under the age of 18,) to be endangered by failing to seek or obtain medical care for severe burns the child had suffered.
Investigators say both individuals were aware of the burns and did not seek help, it was only until the child became unresponsive that they decided to take any action.
Edgar County 911 Dispatch received a call at 6:52 p.m. on Monday, September 21st from a caregiver reporting the child had become unresponsive. The Paris Police Department, Paris Fire Department, and Horizon Health Ambulance all responded. The child was transported to the Emergency Room at Horizon Health Paris Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 7:42 p.m. that same night.
A forensic autopsy was conducted the following morning in Bloomington by forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton. The child’s name is being withheld while the family is being notified.
The death remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the Paris Police Department, and the Edgar County Coroner’s Office.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
