Mother 'watched as her boyfriend smothered their baby then they put limp infant back in playpen and had sex'
A Chicago couple suffocated their
baby daughter because she was crying then put the limp infant back in
her playpen and had sex, police said.
Five-month-old Angelina Rodriguez is fighting for her life after her father, Rodrigo Rodriguez, 29, allegedly covered her mouth three times to stop her from crying as her mother, Angela Petrov, 21, looked on.
The next morning, the parents found the baby unresponsive. They have each been charged with aggravated battery to a child.
Rodriguez and Petrov were drinking Hennessy in their West Rogers Park apartment on Thursday night while Angelina was sleeping, Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Buck said at a hearing on Sunday.
Buck said that when the child began to cry, Petrov picked her up and gave her a bottle but she wouldn't settle so Rodriguez took her from her mother and put his hand over the baby's mouth until she stopped crying.
He did this numerous times as the baby continued to sob and gasp for air, Buck said. She said Petrov sat in the room and watched as Rodriguez, who has a tattoo on his arm that reads 'Trust None,' smothered the child.
The third time Rodriguez covered his daughter's mouth, the baby went limp, according to Buck, who said the couple then put the girl in her playpen, had sex and went to sleep.
At around 7 a.m., Petrov woke up to get an older child ready for school and then went back to sleep.
There are three children in the home, two of which were fathered by Rodriquez.
At about 11 a.m., Rodriquez and Petrov got up and noticed the baby was 'stiff and unresponsive' in the playpen, Buck said, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
The couple tried throwing water on the baby's face to wake her and performed CPR before Petrov called 911.
Angelina was taken Saint Francis Hospital and then transferred to Lurie Children's Hospital, where she is on life support.
Doctors say the baby suffered brain
swelling and a 'blown pupil' due to a lack of oxygen and she currently
has limited or no brain activity, Buck said.
Doctors also noted that the baby had a skull fracture from a previous incident, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez and Petrov were arrested late on Friday.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Dave Clarkin said the agency is investigating both Rodriguez and Petrov for neglect and abuse. The couple's other children have been placed with a family member, Clarkin said.
Rodriguez and Petrov were
already under investigation for allegations of abuse involving another
child on January 29, Clarkin said. That probe is still pending.
Rodriguez's mother, Crucita Rivera, insisted her son, who she said has bipolar disorder, 'would never smother a child.' Rivera, 56, said she had previously offered to take care of the couple's three children.
Buck said Rodriguez eventually admitted to officers that he put his hand over his daughter's mouth repeatedly and Petrov allegedly told police that she sat in a chair and watched him do it.
Cook County Judge James Brown ordered both parents held in lieu of $5 million bail on Sunday.
Five-month-old Angelina Rodriguez is fighting for her life after her father, Rodrigo Rodriguez, 29, allegedly covered her mouth three times to stop her from crying as her mother, Angela Petrov, 21, looked on.
The next morning, the parents found the baby unresponsive. They have each been charged with aggravated battery to a child.
Rodriguez and Petrov were drinking Hennessy in their West Rogers Park apartment on Thursday night while Angelina was sleeping, Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Buck said at a hearing on Sunday.
Buck said that when the child began to cry, Petrov picked her up and gave her a bottle but she wouldn't settle so Rodriguez took her from her mother and put his hand over the baby's mouth until she stopped crying.
He did this numerous times as the baby continued to sob and gasp for air, Buck said. She said Petrov sat in the room and watched as Rodriguez, who has a tattoo on his arm that reads 'Trust None,' smothered the child.
The third time Rodriguez covered his daughter's mouth, the baby went limp, according to Buck, who said the couple then put the girl in her playpen, had sex and went to sleep.
At around 7 a.m., Petrov woke up to get an older child ready for school and then went back to sleep.
Accused: Rodrigo Rodriguez, 29, pictured left,
allegedly covered the baby's mouth three times to stop her from crying
as her mother, Angela Petrov, 21, right, watched on
At about 11 a.m., Rodriquez and Petrov got up and noticed the baby was 'stiff and unresponsive' in the playpen, Buck said, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
The couple tried throwing water on the baby's face to wake her and performed CPR before Petrov called 911.
Angelina was taken Saint Francis Hospital and then transferred to Lurie Children's Hospital, where she is on life support.
Brain damage: Doctors say the baby, pictured,
suffered brain swelling and a 'blown pupil' due to a lack of oxygen and
she currently has limited or no brain activity
Neglect: Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services spokesman Dave Clarkin said the agency is investigating
both Rodriguez, left, and Petrov, right, for neglect and abuse
Doctors also noted that the baby had a skull fracture from a previous incident, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez and Petrov were arrested late on Friday.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Dave Clarkin said the agency is investigating both Rodriguez and Petrov for neglect and abuse. The couple's other children have been placed with a family member, Clarkin said.
Other children: The couple, pictured, have two older children who have been placed in the care of relatives
Tattoo: Rodriguez who allegedly smothered the baby, right, has a tattoo that reads 'Trust None' on his arm, left
Earlier investigation: Rodriguez and Petrov were
already under investigation for allegations of abuse involving another
child on January 29
Rodriguez's mother, Crucita Rivera, insisted her son, who she said has bipolar disorder, 'would never smother a child.' Rivera, 56, said she had previously offered to take care of the couple's three children.
Buck said Rodriguez eventually admitted to officers that he put his hand over his daughter's mouth repeatedly and Petrov allegedly told police that she sat in a chair and watched him do it.
Cook County Judge James Brown ordered both parents held in lieu of $5 million bail on Sunday.