Prosecutor: Ill. woman drowns newborn, burns home

[July 30, 2008]  CHAMPAIGN (AP) -- Prosecutors say a woman drowned her newborn boy, hid the body in a wooded area near her home, then later burned down the residence.

Cayla Wheeler, 23, of Westfield was charged Monday in Clark County Circuit Court with first-degree murder, concealing a homicidal death and arson.

Wheeler gave birth to the boy at home around July 2, then apparently drowned him and hid the body in a hole in a wooded area about 100 yards from the house, prosecutors said.

Seven days later, she burned down the home she shared with her husband, prosecutors said.

While investigating the fire, police learned Cayla Wheeler had recently been pregnant, wasn't any longer but had no child with her, said Ed Parkinson of the Illinois Appellate Prosecutors Office. His office is handling the case because Clark County State's Attorney Dennis Simonton has said he's known the Wheeler family for years.

Investigators initially believed the child had been stillborn and looked through the rubble for remains with the help of dogs, Parkinson said Tuesday.

"They didn't find any evidence of a child in the fire rubble," he said. "While doing that search, they became aware about a hundred yards away from the house that there was a body of a newborn baby boy."

Parkinson said an autopsy determined the baby had been drowned, but he declined to discuss details. He said authorities have not determined a motive.

Wheeler's attorney, Nancy DeSelmes, declined to comment.

A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 6.

[Associated Press; By DAVID MERCER]

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