Woman Convicted In Baby's Death Moves To Rockdale: Police

ROCKDALE, IL — The Rockdale Police Department issued a news bulletin on Thursday informing people that a convicted killer has chosen to relocate in the small community near Joliet. Kari (Frey) McKay, 45, has moved into an apartment unit in the 100 block of Davis Avenue, police said.

McKay was previously convicted of murder with intent to kill. Her victim was less than 3 months old and she was 19 at the time of her crime, according to police.

"Kari McKay has been convicted of an offense that requires registration with the police department as she is now residing in Rockdale," police advised. "Kari McKay has served the sentence imposed on her by the courts. KARI MCKAY IS NOT WANTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THIS TIME. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed community is a safer community."

As a convicted murderer, McKay must register with the Illinois Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry.

In 1994, the Chicago Tribune published an article headlined, "Teen Mom Sentenced In Slaying Of Her Baby."

According to the Tribune article, Frey had confessed to killing her 2 1/2-month-old daughter. Frey was 19, and she lived in Elwood.

In 1994, Frey pleaded guilty to murdering her daughter Tonya Heddins by placing her hand over the child's mouth to keep her from crying, according to the Chicago newspaper. She was then sentenced to 27 years of imprisonment.

"I know what happened, but I'm not sure why it happened," Frey told Will County Associate Court Judge Stephen White, according to the newspaper article from June 1994. "No one really knows but me, and I'm not even sure I do."

At the sentencing, the long-time Will County judge remarked, that "This is one of the hardest things to understand-how this can occur. But it did."

Frey also brought her infant daughter to St. Joe's hospital only seven days before the child's death after the baby suffered a broken arm, the Chicago Tribune article reported.

On Thursday, the Rockdale Police Department wanted people to know that officers have no legal authority to direct where a murderer or violent offender against youth may or may not live.

"Unless court-ordered restrictions exist, this murderer or violent offender against youth is constitutionally free to live wherever she chooses," police noted.