A Cook County judge on Thursday declared a mistrial in the case of a Hanover Park woman charged with strangling her newborn baby to death almost three years ago.
The judge's decision after jurors in the trial of 22-year-old Jessica Cruz indicated they had deadlocked after about 20 hours of deliberations. The jury told the judge the deliberations became "contentious" and "detrimental," according to the Daily Herald.
A tentative retrial for Cruz is set in December. Prosecutors declined to comment.
Assistant Public Defender Deana Binstock said she is impressed with the jury and "they did the best they could."
Prosecutors say Cruz killed her son and left his body in the trash can of a Salvation Army store in November 2011.
The newborn, a 6 pound, 11 ounce boy about 18" long, was found wrapped in plastic in the trash receptacle with his umbilical cord still attached. Authorities said at the time they believed the bag was used to strangle the boy.
Cruz pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and concealing a homicide.
Under Illinois' Safe Haven law, parents are allowed to relinquish custody of an unharmed newborn up to 30 days old to personnel at a hospital, emergency medical care facility, police or fire station.
