EAST PEORIA, Ill. — A 33-year-old woman is in custody for first degree murder of 4-year-old Tate Thurman of East Peoria.
Lesli Jett was arrested without incident Wednesday around 4:34 p.m. in Creve Coeur during a traffic stop. She is being held at the Tazewell County Jail. Jett is the girlfriend of Thurman’s father.
On Tuesday Feb. 18, EP Fire Paramedics were called after 9:00 a.m. to 109 Jefferson Ct. for a 4-year-old male in full cardiac arrest. Two minutes after arriving on scene, first responders requested the police.
Police were advised that 4-year-old Thurman was in critical condition and he was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, according to EP Police Chief, Steve Roegge.
“Rescue personnel also told police that Tate was covered in bruises from head to toe, and the nature of the call was suspicious,” Roegge said.
The only residents at the home when responders arrived were Jett, Thurman, and a sleeping 2-year-old.
Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators were called to the home for further investigation and collection of possible evidence.
Peoria County Coroner, Jamie Harwood, said that on Thursday Feb. 20, Thurman was pronounced brain dead.
“He remained on ventilatory support, commonly known as life support, for a procurement of organs for donation,” Harwood said.
The autopsy results indicated that Thurman’s injuries were not consistent with what was originally reported.
“Thurman suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries that were grossly inconsistent with the reported mechanism,” Harwood said. “The injuries were congruent with a perpetuated trauma mechanism.”
Thurman died from the blunt force trauma injuries.
“Due to the nature of the injuries, [the death] is being ruled a homicide,” Harwood said.
Tazewell County State’s Attorney, Stewart Umholtz, said confidential juvenile information regarding the case was released on social media.
“I want to alert the public on a subject that they should already know this is the case. But, you can really brave sitting behind a telephone or a keyboard and releasing information on social media,” Umholtz said. “But, that doesn’t mean that it’s not harmful, it doesn’t mean that it’s not illegal, and it doesn’t mean that there may be consequences.”
He said they can not have individuals releasing confidential juvenile information to the public, especially with this kind of case.
Umholtz also mentioned the great efforts of the first responders and medical professionals who handled the case.
“Everyone knows that we have great medical resources in this area. Pediatric Resource Center, which is very helpful in allowing us the expertise to successfully prosecute abuse cases. And, make no mistake about it, this is an abuse case,” Upholtz said. “This is a case where it was immediately apparent through fire and rescue that this case was not as Ms. Jett described as a slip and fall.”
Formal charges will be filed within the next 48 hours.
Umholtz asks the community to be patient when it comes to receiving information regarding the case.
“You’ll hear all the details of this case as it comes out through trial, but not beforehand,” Umholtz said.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl commended the efforts put towards the case.
“I’ll stand before you and tell you, they’ve given eight days, 24/7, tirelessly working,” Kahl said.
Kahl also asks for citizens to be respectful towards the case.
“We’re all here seeking justice for Tate, so that’s the most important thing to keep in mind,” Kahl said.
