Mom Beats and Bites 3-Year-Old, Blames Brother: Cops

JUSTICE, IL — A Justice woman is accused of beating her 3-year-old son and then blaming it on the child’s older half-brother, prosecutors said. Kathy Pollock, 43, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of aggravated battery to a child.

The prosecutor said Pollock lived in the 400 block of Sterling Street with her 3-year-old son and the child’s 10-year-old half-brother. On July 12, the older boy’s grandmother arrived to pick up her grandson to spend the weekend with her. While at the home, the grandmother noticed that the younger boy appeared dirty, but he did not have any injuries. The house was in disarray, and Pollock was lying in bed in a state of undress, moaning that she was sick, the prosecutor said.

The grandmother offered to take both children for the weekend, but Pollock declined. A few days later, on July 14, the grandmother called Pollock when dropping off the older boy, but Pollock did not answer the phone. A few minutes later, Pollock texted a picture of the younger boy, who had bite marks on his face, the prosecutor said. Pollock allegedly blamed the older boy, when the grandmother reminded her that the 10-year-old had been with her the entire weekend.

On July 15, the grandmother called authorities. The 3-year-old child had numerous bruises and bite marks on his face, the prosecutor said. Police interviewed Pollock, who they said appeared intoxicated and unable to answer officers’ questions. The boy was taken to the hospital, where doctors determined that he had been abused, according to the charges.

Police interviewed the boy on July 22. The prosecutor said the child disclosed that his mother hit and bit him. Pollock was arrested the next day. The assistant public defender told the judge that Pollock is a part-time hairstylist.

“This is a savage attack on someone incapable of defending himself,” Mahoney said. “It’s a horror.”

Bail was set at $250,000. Pollock is due back in court Aug. 21 in Bridgeview.