ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. () — A 48-year-old woman is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the death of an infant more than two decades ago, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Jennifer Lebron, identified by authorities as the child’s mother, is accused of involvement in the newborn’s death. The baby was discovered dead inside a bag in a dumpster behind a grocery store on Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach on Aug. 26, 2001.
The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force handled the original investigation, and a different woman was charged with first-degree murder in September 2001. Prosecutors later dismissed those charges.
Authorities said Round Lake Beach investigators took another look at the case in early 2024 and submitted the child’s DNA for genetic genealogy analysis.
That testing produced a genetic link to a person related to the infant’s father, ultimately helping investigators identify both of the baby’s parents, officials said.
Officials said the father is not believed to have been involved in any criminal conduct.
“I am extraordinarily proud of the determination of our detectives, as well as the investigators whose efforts began nearly 25 years ago. I was personally at the scene of this incident in 2001, and the memory of that day has remained with me throughout my career. Our children and senior citizens are among the most precious and vulnerable members of our community, and cases involving harm to them resonate especially deeply,” Round Lake Beach Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez said.
Lebron was taken into custody Tuesday morning and was scheduled to appear in court later Tuesday afternoon.
