Shanquilla Garvey Charged With Murdering Her Baby Girl

JOLIET, IL - A 24-year-old mother who was living at a motel on Plainfield Road now faces three separate counts of murder in connection with Sunday's death of her baby girl, Cherish Freeman. On Wednesday, the Office of Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow upgraded the criminal charges against Shanquilla Garvey. She was being held inside the Will County Adult Detention Center for the past eight days and charged with three counts of aggravated battery to a child causing permanent disabilities.

On December 20, Garvey's daughter Cherish was rushed by ambulance to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center and then airlifted to a children's trauma center in Oak Lawn. The baby suffered two skull fractures and Joliet Police have said that Garvey was responsible for beating her child inside her motel room at the Bel-Air. Garvey had been living at the Bel-Air since October, according to police.

Cherish died from her injuries Christmas Eve.

According to court records at the Will County Courthouse, Cherish Freeman was born in late March to Shanquilla Garvey and Justin R. Freeman, a resident of Bellwood.

Two of Garvey's other small children have been taken into emergency protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services, police have said.

Shanquilla Garvey

Main image via Google Maps, image of Shanquilla Garvey via Will County Sheriff's Department