HOMER GLEN, Ill. (CBS) — The parents of a 2-year-old girl who died in southwest suburban Homer Glen faced a charge of child endangerment Wednesday evening.
A week ago Wednesday at 11:37 p.m., Will County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in the 12200 block of Thorn Apple Lane in Homer Glen after 2-year-old Trinity Balen-Weiher was found unresponsive. Officers were told there may have been a carbon monoxide leak in the home, the sheriff’s office said.
Officers found Trinity’s father – Edward Weiher, 49 – performing CPR on the 2-year-old on an ottoman in the living room. Also in the home were Trinity’s mother — Alexa Balen, 27 — and her 6-year-old daughter, the sheriff’s office said.
Trinity was rushed to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where she died.
Meanwhile, Homer Township Fire and Nicor determined that there was in fact no gas leak in the home, the sheriff’s office said. Officers found trash, spoiled food, soiled diapers and clothing, medical waste and much evidence of drug use, the sheriff’s office said.
Evidence of drug use included 9 grams of heroin scattered around the house — and likely within reach of Trinity and her 6-year-old sister — and 21 pills of Xanax on the bedroom floor, the sheriff’s office said. Officers also found several used shell casings of Narcan near the ottoman where Trinity was found.
Prosecutors presented evidence during a hearing Thursday, including photos of the deplorable conditions. Prosecutors say the 6-year-old went to the hospital because of drugs in her system.
Weiher and Balen were both taken to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, while the 6-year-old daughter was taken into protective custody. The parents both made self-incriminating statements and were arrested on warrants, the sheriff’s office said.
Weiher and Balen were each charged with one misdemeanor count of endangering the life or health of a child, and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Weiher faces four felony charges.
Weiher was taken to the Will County Jail and is scheduled to appear for a pretrial detention hearing Thursday. The judge refused his release.
Balen was taken to the hospital for a medical condition and will be booked into jail when she is released, the sheriff’s office said.
Trinity’s cause of death remained under investigation pending an autopsy and toxicology report. But the sheriff’s office said it expects more charges in what they call a “tragic and horrific investigation.”
