Grandmother Murders Infant With Sledge Hammer and Carving Knife, Police Say
A grandmother in suburban Chicago stands accused of a gruesome murder of her six-month-old granddaughter.
Alfreda Giedrojc, 61, allegedly struck the infant with a sledge hammer and then slit the still-living child’s throat with a knife on Sunday morning, prosecutors claim. Authorities are holding the suspect without bail at the Cermak Hospital in Cook County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.
According to the CBS Chicago affiliate, prosecutor Michael Deno indicated that “Giedrojc allegedly laid the girl on the floor when she was alone with her and then retrieved a sledge hammer from a closet she had placed there the night before.After striking the baby multiple times, the baby was still crying and moving, so the grandmother slit the child’s throat with a large carving knife.”
The OakLawn Patch reports that “Deno said in court that Giedrojc admitted in a video statement to beating the baby with a sledge hammer and slitting her throat.”
CNN reports that the baby and her father were visiting the grandparents when the horrible crime occurred. “The girl’s father brought her to Giedrojc’s home in the southwestern suburb of Oak Lawn on Sunday while he helped with repairs on a nearby home… Her father and grandfather had stepped out of the grandparents’ house for a short time when this horrific event took place.”
The grandfather apparently called 911 as soon as he returned home. Police responded, and the baby was treated at a local hospital where she tragically was pronounced dead that afternoon.
Investigators have yet to establish a motive for this alleged murder of baby Vivian. The suspect in her death — who reportedly has no previous arrest record — has an October 28 court appearance.
According to Oak Lawn Police Chief Michael Murray, “I have never seen anything like this. It’s a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. This is going to be a very difficult time for everybody.”
