PEORIA, Ill. – An appeals court believes one of two women charged in the death of a 13-month-old baby more than a year ago should be released before trial.
27-year-old Nausicca Thomas and 29-year-old Tasheaunna Williams are alleged to have given Hezekiah Williams a fatal dose of sleep medication to stop him from crying in December of 2024. Tasheaunna is Hezekiah’s mother.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office initially drew up conditions for Thomas’ release, who was only charged with Aggravated Battery at the time, but was jailed with Williams after a grand jury added first degree murder charges.
Thomas’ attorney argued that prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence that she posed a threat to the community.
Fourth District Appellate Court Justice Eugene Doherty agreed in his opinion, with Justice Peter Cavanagh agreeing.
The opinion cites no prior convictions for Thomas, as well as a low risk assessment and several weeks of compliance on the pretrial release.
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