Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Homicide

Illinois woman convicted of murdering boyfriend's 8-year-old daughter

By Frank Miles Fox News
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for Nov. 19 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for Nov. 19

Fox News Flash top headlines for Nov. 19 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com

A woman in Illinois, accused of killing her boyfriend’s 8-year-old daughter by kicking her so hard in the stomach that it tore her intestine, was convicted of first-degree murder, according to reports.

Cynthia Clay, also known as Cynthia Baker, 41, also was found guilty of aggravated battery, endangering the life of a child, and three counts of domestic battery, WEEK reported.

She will be sentenced on February 3, WGLT reported.

She could face life in prison because the jury found the murder to be heinous and with wanton cruelty.

CHICAGO GANG LEADER ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING ISIS

Cynthia Clay, also known as Cynthia Baker, 41, accused of killing her boyfriend’s 8-year-old daughter by kicking her so hard in the stomach that it tore her intestine, was convicted of first-degree murder, according to reports. (Normal Police Department)

Cynthia Clay, also known as Cynthia Baker, 41, accused of killing her boyfriend’s 8-year-old daughter by kicking her so hard in the stomach that it tore her intestine, was convicted of first-degree murder, according to reports. (Normal Police Department)

During the trial, videos were shown of Baker abusing Rica Rountree; one video showed Baker kneeing Rica in the back, then hitting the girl’s head on a wall.

Rica died in January of peritonitis, caused by ruptures of her intestine, forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton testified.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“For most, it’s unthinkable but for Rica, it was normal. In the 407 Stanhope residence, Rica was treated as less than as this defendant’s punching bag and her pain served as entertainment for the entire family,” said Erka Reynolds, McLean County assistant state’s attorney.