Coroner said 13-month-old's death being investigated as homicide

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Two women have been charged for allegedly giving too much cold medicine to 13-month-old Hezekiah Williams.

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said preliminary findings from the boy's autopsy showed the child suffered "evidence of gross physical abuse and neglect. Forensic toxicology testing is still pending."

Harwood said the infant's death is being investigated as a homicide.

Tasheaunna R. Williams, 26, and Nausicca Thomas, 27, both of Peoria, were charged earlier this week in Peoria County Circuit Court with one count of aggravated battery in connection with the boy's death late last month.

They were both arrested Jan. 10 in Morton.

They have since been released on pretrial release by a Peoria County judge. Both are scheduled to next appear in court on Feb. 27 for a preliminary hearing, though it is likely that a grand jury will hear the case before then.

The charges allege they gave an "excessive dose of ZzzQuil" to the child on Dec. 18. The following day, officers from the Peoria Police Department were called to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center as the child was unresponsive, according to Peoria police spokeswoman Semone Roth.

The child had arrived at the hospital by ambulance, where it remained in critical condition until his death on Dec. 27, Roth said.

The Pediatric Resource Center and the state's Department of Children and Family Services were notified when the child arrived, Roth said.

The matter remains under investigation, she said.