Illinois Babysitter Headed to Trial in 1-Year-Old's Death

An autopsy performed on the toddler couldn't determine a cause of death and showed no signs of trauma

A judge in Cumberland County, Illinois, has decided a 21-year-old woman will stand trial in the death of a 1-year-old girl who she was babysitting.

Natasha L. Gordon of Neoga has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the Aug. 27 death of Arianna McNeal, the Effingham Daily News reports.

Special agent Timothy Brown of the Illinois State Police testified Monday that Gordon told him she left Arianna in the bathtub with her boyfriend's 3-year-old daughter while she stepped onto the porch to speak with her boyfriend.

He testified that Gordon said Arianna was face down in the bathtub when she went to check on the children.

An autopsy performed on the toddler couldn't determine a cause of death and showed no signs of trauma.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Feb. 1.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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