Mom Who Killed Disabled Daughter Must Serve 4-Year Sentence

The Illinois Supreme Court has refused to hear the sentence appeal of a Schaumburg mother who admitted last year to killing her disabled daughter with a lethal dose of medication in 2015, according to the Daily Herald. Bonnie Liltz pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with giving her 28-year-old daughter who suffered from cerebral palsy a deadly amount of pills through her feeding tube. Prosecutors had recommended probation as part of the plea deal, but a judge sentenced her to four years in prison.

In his argument for the court to hear the case, Thomas Glasgow, Liltz's attorney, contended that serving prison time would constitute cruel and unusual punishment for his client because the Illinois Department of Corrections is unable to care for her medical problems. Currently, Liltz is free on bail.

Liltz, 58, is a two-time cancer survivor, and she suffers from bowel issues stemming from ovarian cancer she was diagnosed with at 19. In the short time she was at Logan Correctional Center, Liltz had to be hospitalized for a possible infection and dehydration. Glasgow told the Herald that she also lost more than 10 pounds while in prison, dropping to around 84 pounds. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Arlington Heights news. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The Illinois State Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case lets stand a lower appellate court's ruling to uphold Cook County Judge Joel Greenblatt's original sentence. Glasgow has until Nov. 1 to consider the next step, and he might ask Gov. Bruce Rauner to commute Liltz's sentence. The attorney told the Herald that he is asking for mercy for his client, not for a pardon or for Liltz's conviction to be set aside.

More Patch Coverage

• Is Probation Enough For Mom Who Fed Disabled Daughter Lethal Pills?
  
• Mom Who Fed Disabled Daughter Lethal Pills Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison
  
• Mom Who Killed Disabled Daughter Hospitalized For Possible Infection
  
• Mom Who Killed Disabled Daugther Granted Bail During Appeal

In May of 2015, Liltz fed the contents of drug capsules into her daughter Courtney's feeding tube before taking the same pills herself and washing them down with a glass of wine as part of a suicide attempt. Both women were rushed to the hospital, but doctors only were able to revive Liltz. She originally pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the case.

Liltz was taken into custody and sent to Logan Correctional Center following her sentencing. After Liltz encountered health issues during her incarceration, an appeals court made the unusual move to issue an appeallate bond in August of 2016 that allowed her to be released from prison while she waited for her case to be reviewed. Her father posted her $5,000 bail that same month, and she has been out of jail since then.

More via the Daily Herald

Bonnie Liltz, 58 (Photo via Illinois Department of Corrections)

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