Ill. woman enters plea after fatally throwing 3-year-old child against wall

CARLINVILLE, Ill. (TCD) — A 34-year-old woman recently entered a plea agreement in connection with the 2022 death of a 3-year-old child.

According to an initial press release from the Carlinville Police Department, on Oct. 20, 2022, the Litchfield Fire Station was notified about a “child in distress.” Emergency personnel responded to a vehicle, where they found the child deceased.

Officials determined the acts leading up to the child’s death occurred in Macoupin County, and the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, Carlinville Police Department, and Litchfield Police Department worked together on the investigation.

After serving multiple search warrants and conducting interviews, Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison, Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl, Carlinville Police Chief David Haley, and Litchfield Police Chief Kenneth Ryker announced Ashley Bottoms was charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death.

According to WICS-TV, Bottoms threw the victim, Hunter Lee Drew, as she was trying to break up a fight between two minors. Drew reportedly died of brain bleed after hitting his head against the ledge of a half wall.

The Journal Courier reports that Bottoms didn’t seek medical attention, and instead, she drove the child around for more than three hours before going to Litchfield to pick up the victim’s father. The child reportedly died sometime during the drive. Someone reportedly noticed Drew, and he was transported to the Litchfield Fire Station but was already dead.

In a statement, Garrison said, “Crimes against children are, by their very nature, some of the worst crimes, with perpetrators leaving families destroyed by their actions.”

Garrison continued, “It is alleged that this defendant, a trusted household member, committed this horrific act.”

On Thursday, April 13, Bottoms reportedly entered a plea agreement for involuntary manslaughter. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 16, court documents show. Garrison told WICS that Bottoms faces three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police did not specify Bottoms’ relationship to the victim.