Accused Of Killing Infant Son, Mom Says Not Guilty

BRIDGEVIEW-- Angelica Bisaga-Coffey, the Hickory Hills mother accused of killing her infant son pleaded not guilty Friday to four counts of murder, said Tandra Simonton, spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney.

Bisaga-Coffey, 25, is accused of killing 7-month-old Carpediem Coffey, said Andy Conklin, Cook County state's attorney spokesman. Conklin said she told police the abuse happened between Jan. 25 and Feb. 4, the day the child died.

"She admitted it made her laugh to see her child cry as she tossed him," Conklin said.

She was previously ordered held on no bond following a bond hearing in which a prosecutor said she instigated an 11-day reign of terror where Cook County prosecutors say she shook the child, tossed him toward an 8-foot ceiling, slammed his head on a changing table and called him "garbage baby" and "sewer system."

Conklin said the child's father called 911 around 8:30 a.m. Feb. 4 because Carpediem was unresponsive. Carpediem was pronounced dead at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights. The Cook County Medical Examiner determined the death to be an autopsy due to blunt force trauma, Conklin said. He said the autopsy showed of hemorrhaging the optic nerves in both eyes. The victim's brain was so damaged, Conklin said, that it had the consistency of gelatin when removed during the autopsy.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services also was involved in the investigation. Conklin said there was a prior finding of abuse and neglect by DCFS against Bisaga-Coffey in October 2007 due to a spiral fracture in Carpediem's leg.

Bisaga-Coffey has no criminal background, Conklin said. Carpediem's 4-year-old sister was taken from the home following the February arrest, officials said. Bisaga-Coffey's next court date is May 13, Simonton said.

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