Bond Denied For Mother Of Child With Fractured Skull

JOLIET, IL - An 8-month-old baby from Joliet is fighting for her life after the Joliet Police Department say the child endured a severe beating from her mother at the Bel-Air Motel on Wednesday. Late Wednesday afternoon, Shanquilla Garvey, 24, was charged with aggravated battery of a child, according to Joliet Deputy Police Chief of Investigations Al Roechner. Garvey was arrested on the serious felony offense following an interview at the downtown Joliet police station.

On Thursday afternoon, Garvey made her first appearance in court. At the moment, Garvey is charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery to a child causing permanent disabilities. Court records show that Garvey has a couple of misdemeanor convictions out of Will County. The 2011 and 2012 crimes involved theft and stealing checks. Before moving to Joliet, Garvey was living in Bolingbrook.

According to Roechner, Garvey has been living at the Bel-Air Motel, 1103 Plainfield Road, since October. She stayed there along with her 8-month-old daughter as well as her two other children, ages 2 and 3, Roechner said. He said that a 911 call occurred on Wednesday regarding a baby not breathing.

An ambulance rushed the child over to Presence Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Joliet. The injured child was later taken by helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Roechner said.

He termed the baby's injuries "extremely critical," and said that Joliet detectives remain in regular contact with doctors and medical staff at the suburban hospital.

"It's not looking promising," Roechner told Joliet Patch late Thursday morning.

As for Garvey's other two children, Joliet police officers immediately notified the Department of Children & Family Services about the suspected child abuse at the Bel-Air Motel, Roechner said.

The two are now in the custody of DCFS, he indicated.

As for the injured baby, Roechner said the little girl "suffered two fractures to her skull."

"It could be more than that," he explained.

He said that Garvey ultimately called 911 "after the child was unresponsive."

Joliet Patch will continue to bring you more information on this developing story as it becomes available.

Mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department