IL - Alexus Smothers, 8, drowned, body hidden in crawlspace, 19 July 2011

jmfstl · Jul 19, 2011

You can read the story here. She reports her daughter missing and all the while her little 8 year old girl is in the basement dead in a crawl space. I will keep posting here as I find out more news.

Follow link: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/267714/3/Eight-year-old-found-dead-in-home-mother-arrested

Noway · Jul 19, 2011

Police have not indicated how the young girl died, but West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp said the child's mother, 28-year-old Mary Jophlin, was arrested and charged with Concealment of a Death. Tharp said the child was found in the basement of the home, in a crawl space area.

It all started when the mother, Mary Jophlin, called 911 to report her child missing just after 2 a.m. Tuesday. Officers went to search the home and discovered the eight-year-old, who has been identified by family as Alexus Smothers.

Article also says that her children had been taken away from her in 2004 and returned to her in 2005. Also, they moved in to that house 2 weeks ago.

Noway · Jul 19, 2011

A 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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43818083/ns/local_news-peoria_il/

eta
I wonder where her third child is.

Noway · Jul 19, 2011

Police are not releasing any details on how the child died, or why they think the mother hid the body, but they are not looking for any other suspects.

Officials say more charges could follow.

http://www.14wfie.com/story/15111126/il-police-girl-8-found-dead-under-crawl-space

Noway · Jul 19, 2011

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/West-Frankfort-Death-Investigation-125824043.html?skipthumb=Y

This article mentions AS' grandfather planning her funeral. Very sad.

mysticrose · Jul 19, 2011

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.

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13516&type=top

pinkfly · Jul 20, 2011

RIP little Alexus

Filly · Jul 20, 2011

In 2009 Mary Jophlin's 4 year old alerted family and neighbors to a fire that broke out in the apartment of Jophlin's sister. She and her children had been staying there with her sister.

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/article_2cdb6611-956d-598a-8772-5708e8631d41.html

Silkprint · Jul 20, 2011

Omg !! a homicide ..that poor kid .

WillenFan21 · Jul 20, 2011

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (NBC) -

The mother of an 8-year old girl has been arrested after police say they found the child's body in the crawlspace of her home.

Police in West Frankfort, Illinois arrested 28-year-old Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin on a charge of concealing a death.

Read More: http://www.wfie.com/story/15111126/il-police-girl-8-found-dead-under-crawl-space

deelytful1 · Jul 20, 2011

Wow, sigh.
How can we protect our children when it's their parents they need protection from?

Sad story (yet ANOTHER sad story)

BeanE · Jul 20, 2011

Being treated as a homicide. Past DPS contact. Abuse. Neglect. Same old story.

More details here:
http://www.dailyregister.com/news/x...other-accused-of-concealing-8-year-olds-death

Rest in peace, Alexus Smothers.

BeanE · Jul 20, 2011

More details. She reported her missing.

Zumwalt-Jophlin placed a 911 call to report her young daughter missing about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, Tharp said. Within minutes, the child's body was located in a crawlspace in the basement of the wood-frame house at 1704 E. Oak St. in the Heights section of West Frankfort, where the family resides.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/stat...2d7-11e0-85cb-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1SfGt3DAN

Rest in peace, sweetheart.

Soulmagent · Jul 20, 2011

Is this her?

http://www.classmates.com/directory/public/memberprofile/list.htm?regId=8684142889

badhorsie · Jul 20, 2011

It must be, an unusual name

greenfingers · Jul 20, 2011

R.I.P. Alexus you are safe now.

ohiogirl · Jul 20, 2011

RIP, Alexus. what a sweet girl. Damn, if the sister knew the mom was bad news, why let her take the girls? this could have been prevented. Really sad. No one can hurt you now Alexus.

wfgodot · Jul 20, 2011

BeanE said:
Being treated as a homicide. Past DPS contact. Abuse. Neglect. Same old story.

Yep. Sadly reminds of the "two children buried under house" case in San Antonio in 2007.

Jerry Salazar Gets Life For Death Of Two Children Buried Under Home (ksat.com)

MorenoI · Jul 20, 2011

RIP Alexus....

LivingWrite · Jul 20, 2011

According to the news article, "The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said Jophlin, a mother of three, had her children taken away in 2004 because of abuse and neglect allegations. The children were returned to her care in 2005."

There's something wrong with a system that has 'family reunification' as it's main and sometimes only goal. Wrong.

IL - Alexus Smothers, 8, drowned, body hidden in crawlspace, 19 July 2011

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