Lake County Mom Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Son's Death

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Lake County mother now faces prison time after a jury found her guilty Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter for failing to provide the medication and medical care her 11-year-old son needed following a heart transplant.

Her son, Jason Stroud, a sixth grade student at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee, died in September 2016 at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, according to his obituary.

A Lake County jury found Jennifer Stroud, 41, of Park City guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment after less than two hours of deliberation Tuesday, according to prosecutors. Jason's father, David Stroud, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in May 2019 and was sentenced to five years in prison, according to the Daily Herald.

• Parents Accused of Denying Life-Saving Medication Charged In Son's Death

"Both parents knew that Jason’s transplant required lifetime care, and they knew the risks of failing him. They were reckless with his life, and we hope these verdicts start a path toward justice for Jason," said Eric Kalata, the lead trial prosecutor on the case, following the guilty verdicts Tuesday.

Jennifer and David Stroud, who were married at the time of Jason's death, were charged as co-defendants prior to their July 2017 divorce, according to the Daily Herald. The cases were separated after that.

Authorities said the parents did not bring Jason to regular hospital visits after his heart transplant and did not give him the daily medication he needed to keep his body from rejecting the new heart. Jason eventually suffered from heart failure and died.

During Jennifer's trial, the state called 13 witnesses, including several social workers and medical professionals who testified Stroud was offered free transportation and lodging to help get Jason and her to his appointments, according to a news release from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

All of the necessary medications and testing procedures were also free, according to prosecutors. In addition, Jennifer received a $60,000 settlement for a car crash, was receiving disability payments from the government on behalf of their son and was a offered financial support from her father to help get Jason to his appointments at Lurie in Chicago, which she never accepted.

Stroud will remain behind bars as she awaits her sentencing hearing. She could be sentenced up to 14 years in prison.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart thanked the Park City Police Department, the Department of Children and Family Services and the Child Protection Services team at Lurie's Children Hospital for "a fantastic investigation on Jason's behalf."

"I want to thank them, the prosecutors, and all the medical professionals who strived to save Jason," Rinehart said. "We will continue our efforts to hold Stroud responsible at the sentencing hearing."