Police: Woman cut baby's throat with power saw in Little Village

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Baby killed in Little Village
Police say a 52-year-old woman is in custody at a hospital for killing the 7-month-old baby girl.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating the death of a 7-month-old girl whose body was found Monday morning in a Little Village apartment.

Police say the baby's throat was cut with a circular power saw, apparently because she wouldn't stop crying. Sources told ABC7 the baby girl's name is Rose Herrera.

Police say charges are pending against a 52-year-old woman, who sources identified as the baby's grandmother. Police said she is in custody at Mt. Sinai Hospital after she tried to kill herself.

"When I came out I heard a young lady in front of the door, and she was crying, 'When am I going to see my mom?' or something like that. And I think they told her to go inside because she was in shock," said Virginia Otero, a neighbor.

Chicago police responded to the home in the 2800-block of S. Avers shortly before 10 a.m. They spent several hours on the scene collecting evidence. Neighbors say a couple lived there with two grown daughters, each of whom had a young child.

"The daughter with the baby just graduated from college to be a teacher," said a woman who has known the family for years. "They're good people."

DCFS said it has not had prior contact with the family, and neighbors say there were no problems that any of them knew of.

"I can't, I can't believe it. I knew them. I knew them real good. We would help out each other," said Raul Chavez, a neighbor.

Police said both the baby and the woman were found by another relative.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.