U. of I. Police investigating on-campus death of infant

Posted on by Abbigail Kepp

CHAMPAIGN — Police are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of a newborn baby who was discovered Sunday evening.

At 5:08 p.m. Sunday, University of Illinois Police were dispatched to Bousfield Hall, 1214 S. First St., Champaign, to check on a U. of I. student who was reported to have been in the bathroom for several hours. When police arrived, the student claimed she had the stomach flu and did not need further assistance.

University Police later received more information from a person familiar with the situation. At 7:22 p.m., police returned to Bousfield Hall to investigate further and found evidence indicating that a child may have been born in the bathroom earlier in the afternoon.

At 8:09 p.m., police located the student with whom the earlier contact was made and transported her to the U. of I. Public Safety Building. While speaking with police, the student said she had given birth earlier in the day. The deceased male infant was then discovered in a backpack the student had been carrying with her.

Investigators are collecting all of the available information and are working with the Office of the Champaign County State’s Attorney and the Champaign County Coroner to determine how to proceed. Decisions regarding criminal matters have yet to be made pending the results of an autopsy which was scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Students are welcome to speak with their resident director, area coordinator, or other Residential Life staff member if they are concerned. Services of the Counseling Center are also available.

  • Contact the Counseling Center at (217) 333-3704, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  • If the emergency is urgent in nature, please “walk-in” for services.
  • For emergency services after-hours, please call the Crisis Line at (217) 359-4141 (TTY: 217-352-4217).
  • If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

The University of Illinois Police Department will release further information as it becomes available. Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216.