Woman cut baby's throat with power saw in Chicago, police say

CHICAGO -- Chicago police are investigating the death of a 9-month-old girl whose body was found Monday morning in a Little Village apartment.

Police say the baby's throat was cut with a circular power saw, apparently because she wouldn't stop crying.

Police say a 52-year-old woman is in custody at a hospital for killing the baby. It appears she was the child's grandmother and tried to kill herself. She was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

"When I came out I heard a young lady in front of the door, and she was crying, 'When am I going to see my mom?' or something like that. And I think they told her to go inside because she was in shock," said Virginia Otero, a neighbor.

Chicago police responded to the home in the 2800 block of S. Avers shortly before 10 a.m. They spent several hours on the scene collecting evidence. Neighbors say a couple lived there with two grown daughters, each of whom had a young child.

"The daughter with the baby just graduated from college to be a teacher," said a woman who has known the family for years. "They're good people."

Ben Llamas, who works with the child's 23-year-old father at a grain elevator, drove him to the scene. He told the Chicago Tribune the father was upset but did not talk about what happened.

Police said both the baby and the woman were found by another relative. They have not released additional details.

The baby's name has not yet been released by the medical examiner, and charges against the 52-year-old woman are pending.

DCFS said it has not had prior contact with the family.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.