ALEXUS SMOTHERS - 8 yo - West Frankfort IL

Mother Charged in Daughter's Death
Posted: Tuesday, July 19th





WEST FRANKFORT - A West Frankfort woman is accused of trying to cover-up the death of her eight-year-old daughter.

Mary Jophlin, 28, is charged with Concealment of a Death. The body of
Jophlin's daughter was discovered in the crawl space of her home early
Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the home in the 1700 block of East Oak Street
after a report of missing child. After a short search of the home, they
found Smothers body; authorities say the case is now being handled as a
homicide investigation.

Family members identified the victim as Alexus Smothers.

Alexus' body has been taken to Bloomington, Illinois for an autopsy to
determine the cause of death. A pathologist specializing in children's
deaths will conduct the autopsy.

Jimmie Whitelow, spokesperson for Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services, says his office is currently investigating allegations
of abuse and neglect in this case. Jophlin is the mother of three, and
one of her other children has been placed in DCFS custody.

DCFS has had prior contact with the family, according to Whitelow.
There was a previous allegation of neglect in 2004. Jophlin's three
children were placed in DCFS custody but were returned to the her in
2005. DCFS has had no contact with the family since 2005.

Family members are struggling to come to terms with both Smothers' death and Jophlin's arrest.

Jennifer Gaskin can't understand why anyone would want to hurt her
8-year-old niece, describing Alexus as a smart, driven little girl who
was always happy.

"She didn't deserve it. She never deserved it," said Alexus' aunt
Jennifer Gaskin, "She was the best kid ever. You know she'd just be to
herself quiet, She'd go around brightening everybody's day."

Gaskin says she was shocked when she learned about Alexus' death on the
news Tuesday morning, and shortly after, that her sister Mary had been
taken into custody.

"She did things wrong, but nothing to this extent. Nothing to hurt somebody this severely," Gaskin said.

Jophlin's family has a lot of questions--and very few answers.

"I don't really feel sympathy for my sister if she did it," said Gaskin,
"I don't know what to think. Why? That's what question I have for her."

Gaskin isn't the only one struggling to make sense of Alexus' tragic
death. The girl's grandfather, Bobby Smothers, is also trying to
understand what led to this.

"How can you, how can you kill a kid. I mean my God, how can you kill a
kid. You can't kill kids, they never done nothing to nobody," he told
News Three.

Bobby Smothers remembers his granddaughter as a happy, sweet little girl
who always had a smile on her face a life cut far too short.

"It should have never came to this. Never. There's no reason on Earth," Bobby Smothers remarked.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13516&type=top

A southern Illinois woman is accused of trying to cover up the death
of her 8-year-old daughter, whose body was found in a crawl space of their home.
Franklin County prosecutors charged 28-year-old Mary Jophlin on Tuesday with concealment of a death.
Alexus Smothers’ body was found Tuesday after police came to the home in response to a report of a missing child.
Authorities haven’t yet said how the girl died. A pathologist who
specializes in children’s deaths is scheduled to perform an autopsy.
A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services says his office is investigating allegations of abuse and
neglect in the case. Jophlin’s other two children have been placed in state custody.
Online court records don’t list an attorney for Jophlin.

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/07/20/woman-accused-in-cover-up-of-daughters-death/

Accused: Mary Jophlin

WEST FRANKFORT —


Police in the southern Illinois city of West Frankfort are investigating the death of an 8-year-old girl.
Police Chief Jeff Tharp says the girl's body was found early Tuesday in her home.
Tharp didn't immediately identify the girl or say how she died or where
in the house the body was found. The Benton Evening News reports that
she was found in the home's crawl space.
The chief calls the death suspicious and says the case is being handled as a homicide.
An autopsy is planned Wednesday in Bloomington.
WSIL-TV's website reports the girl's mother, Mary Jophlin, 28, has been charged with concealment of a death.
Police were called to the home after a report of a missing child. After
a short search of the home, they reportedly found the body of the girl,
identified by family as Alexus Smothers, WSIL reports.
The TV news site reports that Jimmie Whitelow, spokesperson for
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, says his office is
currently investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in this case.
Jophlin is the mother of three, and one of her other children has been
placed in DCFS custody. DCFS has had prior contact with the family.
A trust fund has been set up in Smothers' name at First Bank in West Frankfort.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1259732350/Autopsy-today-in-Bloomington-for-girl-found-dead-in-crawlspace-of-home

No Charges Filed in Death of West Frankfort Girl
Posted: Wednesday, July 20th





WEST FRANKFORT -- Authorities are not saying what killed an 8-year-old West Frankfort girl.

Alexus Smothers' body was found in the crawl space of the house where
she lived early Tuesday morning. Her mother, 28-year-old Mary Jophlin,
remains in jail charged in connection with the child's death.

Smothers' body was taken to Bloomington, Ill., so a specialist could
perform an autopsy Wednesday morning. Authorities remain tight-lipped
about the investigation and do not plan to release a cause of death
until the toxicology report comes back, something that could take
several weeks.

Relatives of the little girl are looking forward to getting some answers.

"You just hope for the best, especially for that baby. She needs justice," said Smothers' uncle, James Randolph.

Randolph calls his niece a little angel, a girl who made a big impact in the world during her short life.

"You could be in the worst mood and look at that baby and she'd put the
biggest smile on your face," he recalled, "She just had this glow to
her."

Randolph is one of the many family members trying to understand what
happened to the child. Alexus' mother- initially reported the girl
missing and was later arrested on charges of concealing a homicide.

Police aren't commenting on when Alexus may have die pending the outcome
of her autopsy. But West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp is not
calling her death a murder.

"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that we're working it as a homicide investigation," Tharp told News Three.

And in the meantime, Alexus' family hopes that investigation leads to justice for the little girl.

"it's been bad. It's been bad on our minds, on our health. We just want justice served," said Randolph.

Funeral arrangements for Alexus Smothers will be handled by Union
Funeral Home in West Frankfort. The specifics of the services have not
been determined.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13533&type=top

Annabeth wrote:This is horrible this poor child......and to know DCFS had been involved and actually removed another child and then gave her back is very telling...Over and over in Illinois, the state reunites these children to parents who are still abusing and neglecting them, there is no follow up....and the vicious cycle of abuse and neglect continues

Illinois seems to operate much like Florida.

Why was Casey charged with concealment of death?

God help our helpless children.

West Frankfort, Ill. —



A West Frankfort woman has lost-at least temporarily-custody of one of
her children in the wake of Tuesday's discovery of the body of another
child.
A shelter care hearing was held Wednesday in circuit court here, and as
a consequence a 6-year-old daughter of Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin, 28,
remains in protective custody of the Illinois Department of Child &
Family Services pending further court proceedings.
Zumwalt-Jophlin has been charged with concealing a death in connection
with the discovery of the body of her 8-year-old daughter, Alexus
Smothers, in a crawl space of the family home's basement.
Police responded to the residence after receiving a 911 call reporting a
missing child, and the girl's body was quickly located in the crawl
space.
Zumwalt-Jophlin told police she placed the child in the crawl space, a
city police officer testified Wednesday, and gave conflicting versions
of how the child "passed."
In one account, the death was attributed to "somewhat accidental"
circumstances, while another indicated a "not accidental" cause,
according to the officer's testimony.
Results of an autopsy performed Wednesday by a forensic pathologist
specializing in child cases have not yet been revealed, nor has a cause
of death been made public.
West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp said the investigation into the death continues.
Zumwalt-Jophlin is jailed here on a preliminary charge of concealment
of a death pending an appearance before a judge and the filing of formal
charges.
Jimmie Whitelow, a spokesman for IDCFS, said his office is investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in the case.
State child-welfare officials investigated a 2004 allegation of neglect
involving the family, and at least one Zumwalt-Jophlin's three children
was placed in state custody before the child was returned to her in
2005, Whitelow said. The department has had no contact with the family
since then, he said.
After Zumwalt-Jophlin 's arrest, her other daughter was placed in state
custody. Jennifer Gaskin, a sister of Zumwalt-Jophlin, said the
defendant's son lives with one of his grandmothers.
Gaskin said Zumwalt-Jophlin and her daughters lived with her until
about four months ago. She said Alexus "had a really hard life" and "had
to grow up really fast," yet still seemed smart, driven and generally
happy.
"She's at peace now," Gaskin said of Alexus. "She was a precious angel.
She had the most beautiful smile. I'm going to miss it so much.
"I don't really feel sympathy for my sister if she did it," Gaskin added. "I don't know what to think."
Funeral arrangements for Alexus are under the care of Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort.http://www.carmitimes.com/area_news/x121484572/Little-girls-body-found-in-crawl-space

A candlelight memorial service was held on Sunday for Alexus Smothers, when I try to post the video and link to the news story I am unable to do so.

In red letters it says "you are not allowed to post links and e-mails".

What is the reason for this?

I am also unable to send a pm.

Hello and welcome> lovinourgrandkids !
I am not certain why you were unable to post those other than you may be so new that the system has not cleared you yet.
We have had some problems in the past with nefarious individuals who try to unload cheap knock-off shoes and purses and the like. So. I am guessing that there is now a time delay built-in to the system before links and vids can be posted.
I will refer your post to our Tech Admin and see what the dealio is.
In the meantime, once again, Welcome to J4C!

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Hello and welcome> lovinourgrandkids !
I am not certain why you were unable to post those other than you may be so new that the system has not cleared you yet.
We have had some problems in the past with nefarious individuals who try to unload cheap knock-off shoes and purses and the like. So. I am guessing that there is now a time delay built-in to the system before links and vids can be posted.
I will refer your post to our Tech Admin and see what the dealio is.
In the meantime, once again, Welcome to J4C!

Thank you Tom for the welcome and for referring my post to Tech Admin.

Red emphasis is mine. These are from The Daily American and include comments from the comment section... IMFO

The Daily American
WFPD reports autopsy on Alexus Smothers is complete. We'll share whatever we learn as soon as we have more to report.
July 20 at 9:00am · Like · Comment
Michelle Ray Rone, Amy O'Daniel Warren, Trisha Hand-Wingo and 5 others like this.



The Daily American We have learned this is NOT currently the case, and our post above is an error. This morning officers are executing a search warrant on Jophlin's vehicle.
July 20 at 9:36am · 1 person

Jackie Parmely Lookin for a weapon, maybe. I heard this morning Alexus had been beat with a pipe or similar item. I am praying I heard wrong.
July 20 at 10:04am

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Daily-American/199889443381483

WEST FRANKFORT -- Dozens light candles to remember a little girl whose
life was cut too short. Friends and family remember the life of
8-year-old Alexus Smothers.
The Smothers family held a candlelight vigil Sunday night to honor the young girl.
Alexus Smothers was found dead by police early Tuesday morning in her West Frankfort home.
The girl's mother, Mary Jophlin is accused of placing her daughter in
the basement crawl space, knowing she was dead, and then reporting her
missing.
Jophlin is charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice. Prosecutors say more charges are likely.
While family members admit Alexus had a challenging home life-they say she didn't let it bring her down.
"She was just the kind of person that she walked into the room and
everybody loved her. She put a smile on everybody's face," said her aunt
Rebecca Smothers.
Only 8-years-old, Alexus knew how to love others. Relatives say there wasn't a thing in the world Alexus didn't love.
Her aunt Bobbie Chabot said she loved animals, she loved bugs, she loved people-she simply loved everything.
Now, her family is showing their love and support for Alexus by holding a candle light vigil in her honor.
"She deserves to have a million people show her love, to show her support, more than that," said Chabot.
Her aunts said despite what may have happened behind closed doors-Alexus would never let her hurt show.
"Her life wasn't perfect by no means but every time you looked at her
you would never know. You would never know that she lived the way that
she did," said her aunt Lisa Jophlin.
Her family was shocked when they heard about the death of such a special
little girl. It's painful for many to hear about the troubled life she
had.
"If I could I would take her place a million times to bring her back… without a doubt," said Rebecca Smothers.
Now all the family can do is think about Alexus and all of the good she brought to everyone's lives.
"You can't forget something so beautiful," said Chabot. She continued,
"in her little eight years she left a bigger imprint than some people
leave in a full lifetime."
Alexus' mother, Mary Jophlin, remains in the Franklin County jail.
She'll be back in court August 17th for a preliminary hearing.

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13558&type=top


http://www.wsiltv.com/p/videos.php?videoID=8192&newsID=13558&type=top&vidType=smMov

Red emphasis is mine: IMFO.


West Frankfurt, IL (KSDK) - The Franklin County State's Attorney's Office has charged a 28-year-old woman in connection with the death of her eight-year-old daughter.

The child, Alexus Smothers, was found dead in the early morning hours of July 19. Her body was in the basement of a home in the 1700 block of E. Oak Street in West Frankfurt. Detectives said the girl died by "homicidal means."...

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/268041/3/Woman-charged-with-concealing-daughters-death

Homicide finally suggested in West Frankfort child’s death

By JACK HOWSER
Published: July 22, 2011

After days of conducting investigations into the matter of the body of an 8-year-old girl found in a crawlspace in a West Frankfort home, officials are finally using the term ‘homicide’ as a cause of death.

http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/tag/mary-jophlin/