Jersey Couple Facing Murder Charges Over Death Of Child
JERSEYVILLE - A Jerseyville couple faces first-degree murder and endangering the life of a child charges after a weekend Jerseyville Police investigation into a case of deceased malnourished child.
The Jerseyville Police responded Friday to Jersey Community Hospital to a case of a malnourished deceased child. The deceased 6-year-old resided at a residence in Jerseyville along with three other step siblings. The 6-year-old’s father, Michael Roberts, 42, and step mother Georgena Roberts, 42, of Jerseyville also resided at the residence with the children.
Jerseyville Police Department determined in the investigation that the deceased 6-year-old and a 7-year-old child were deprived of food by the father and step-mother as a form of punishment. The Department of Children and Family Services were contacted and all of the children were taken into protective custody.
An autopsy was conducted on the 6-year-old and preliminary findings cited by a pathologist as the cause of death as failure to thrive due to “Extreme Malnourishment.” Toxicology and additional tests are pending.
Michael and Georgena Roberts were each separately charged today by the Jersey County State’s Attorney’s Office with the following:
First-degree murder
Endangering the life and health of a child
A second charge of endangering the life and health of a child
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are currently incarcerated in Jerseyville and facing a $500,000 bond. Jerseyville Police said the investigation in the case continues this afternoon.
