ESTRELLA CORTEZ - Newborn (2009) - Blue Island IL

A Blue Island teenager gave birth at her home then threw the newborn
out the bathroom window, Cook County prosecutors said in court Saturday.

Adelina Cortez, 17, of the 12500 block of Greenwood Avenue, is
accused of killing her newborn daughter, Estrella, on Oct. 22.
She was charged Friday with two counts of first-degree murder. Bail
was set Saturday at $750,000.
Prosecutors said Cortez hid the pregnancy from her family, who found
out about the pregnancy after they heard noises coming from the bathroom
as Cortez delivered Estrella.
They found Cortez, who gave birth in the bathtub, in a pool of blood,
prosecutors said.
Cortez's mother took her to the hospital while her step-father
cleaned up the bathroom.
There he found the umbilical cord and placenta and when he looked
outside, he saw a tiny body, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the newborn's death was caused by hypothermia - she
had been alive at birth.
Cortez's family could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Teen charged with murder in death of her newborn girl

March 12, 2010 5:29 PM


A 17-year-old girl was charged with first-degree murder today in connection with the Oct. 22 death of her newborn girl in their Blue Island residence.

Adelina Cortez, of the 12500 block of South Greenwood Avenue in the south suburb, was due to appear for a bond hearing Saturday in the death of the newborn, Estrella Cortez, said Andy Conklin, a Cook County state's attorney's office spokesman.
The day after Estrella's death, the Cook County medical examiner's office determined the autopsy on the girl was inconclusive, pending a police investigation. Officials this afternoon said Adelina Cortez gave birth to the child in their residence and somehow is alleged to have caused her death, but they could not say how.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was investigating allegations of abuse and neglect against the child's mother in this case, said DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe. He said the agency has had no prior contact with the newborn's family.
Adelina Cortez's bond hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday in the Cook County Courthouse in Markham.http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/teen-charged-with-murder-in-death-of-her-newborn-girl.html

Police say Adelina Cortez, 17, of the 12500 block of Greenwood Avenue, allegedly gave birth to a baby girl in her home last October. Cortez did not want the baby and prosecutors say she threw it our her car window soon after its birth.
According to a report in the Southtown Star, prosecutors say the baby did not die from the impact of hitting the ground, but from hypothermia.
Bond for Cortez was set today at $750,000.http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-chicago/chicago-woman-and-suburban-teen-charged-murders-of-their-babies