Oak Lawn Grandma Accused of Slaying Granddaughter Gets October Trial Date

BRIDGEVIEW, IL -- A bench trial has been set for an Oak Lawn grandmother accused of bludgeoning to death and slitting the throat of her 6-month granddaughter in 2013. Alfreda Giedrojc, who is 65, appeared Wednesday morning in Cook County Judge Colleen Hyland’s courtroom, along with her public defender and a Polish interpreter.

While there was discussion at Giedrojc’s last court hearing in June of a possible plea offer, assistant public defender David Dunne asked for a bench trial date to be set on Oct. 24. Giedrojc has undergone several years of psychological evaluations while awaiting trial. The case has gone on for so long that her originally assigned public defender retired.

Giedrojc, who speaks only Polish, asked through her court appointed interpreter if Wednesday’s hearing meant she wouldn’t be seeing her attorney anymore.

“Oh no, we’ll see each other at the bench trial,” Dunne could be heard telling his client.

Oak Lawn police went to the Giedrojc home on Oct. 6, 2013, where they found the gravely injured infant after another family member called 911. Giedrojc allegedly hit her baby granddaughter, Vivian Summers, of Bolingbrook, in the head with a sledge hammer. When the baby wouldn’t stop moving, prosecutors said Giedrojc slashed the baby’s throat. It has been alleged by Oak Lawn police that the diminutive grandmother confessed to hearing voices telling her to kill the infant. Vivian was the daughter of Giedrojc’s daughter, Amy. None of Giedrojc's family members were in court.

Out of respect for the Giedrojc family and his client, Dunne said afterward the he was reluctant to comment on conversations he had with the prosecutor regarding any plea deals.

“There was some talk, it’s a very sensitive matter,” Dunne said. “It’s a tragedy, it’s horrible.”

Dunne added that this is not a typical case.

“She’s unique,” Dunne said. “This not like anything I’ve ever done.”

The bench trial will take place in Bridgeview.