Baby Found Dead In U-Haul; Young Mom Charged With Murder: Reports

PEORIA, IL — A Chicago mother is charged with murder after her baby died of severe heat exposure and was discovered by relatives in a U-Haul in Peoria, according to reports.

Police responded around 7 p.m. Monday to the 2400 block of North Peoria Avenue, where they found Grayson Luncsford of Chicago unresponsive, authorities said, adding the one-month-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

The baby’s mother, 25-year-old Andrea N. Luncsford, was arrested, according to Peoria police. She is charged with first-degree murder and endangering the life or health of a child, jail records showed.

“An autopsy on little Grayson demonstrates that he suffered gross neglect due to severe hyperthermia (exposure to extreme heat) and profound dehydration,” according to the Peoria County Coroner’s Office.

The high temperature Monday in Peoria was 90 degrees, The Weather Channel reported. Authorities’ estimates of how long Grayson Luncsford had been dead before he was discovered ranged from four to 24 hours, according to The Journal Star, which reported the baby was found by his uncle and grandfather.

Andrea Luncsford had been driving the U-Haul for two days and had rented the vehicle in Chicago after a visitation for her recently deceased husband, The Journal Star reported, noting she tested positive for cocaine after the child was discovered.

The investigation is ongoing, according to police, who asked anyone with information to call 309-673-4521 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 309-673-9000.