Father takes plea in 2005 slaying of infant

From the Chicago Tribune--

Father takes plea in slaying of infant

Tribune staff report
Published June 29, 2007

ROUND LAKE BEACH -- A Round Lake Beach man pleaded guilty Thursday to
killing his young daughter in 2005, but a prosecutor said it remains a
mystery why he did it.

Gerardo Hernandez, 31, suffocated his 2-month-old daughter, Juanita,
in March 2005, put her body in a tool bag, left the bag on an Edens
Expressway overpass in Northfield and fled to Mexico, authorities
said.

Hernandez could receive a maximum of 40 years in prison, said
Assistant Lake County State's Atty. Eric Kalata.

Hernandez was extradited from Mexico in exchange for prosecutors
promising not to seek the death penalty or life in prison, authorities
said. Kalata said although Hernandez could have received as many as 60
years in prison, a plea deal was reached that would cap his sentence
at 40 years.

"I have no idea why he could have done this to his child," Kalata
said, adding that Hernandez never gave a statement to authorities
after he was arrested.

Hernandez was immediately suspected in his daughter's death,
authorities said. He left the family's home on March 21, 2005, with
the baby and her 2-year-old sister in his truck, Kalata said. When
Hernandez's wife returned, she realized her family was gone. The
2-year-old was found unharmed at a relative's house. Two days later,
the baby's body was found.

Hernandez was tracked down in Mexico after making calls to his wife in
Round Lake Beach, authorities said.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman plans to sentence Hernandez on Aug. 9. He
is being held in the Lake County Jail.

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-hernandez_29jun29,1,1148778.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

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