ALEXUS SMOTHERS - 8 yo - West Frankfort IL

Mother Charged in Daughter's Death
Posted: Tuesday, July 19th





WEST FRANKFORT - A West Frankfort woman is accused of trying to cover-up the death of her eight-year-old daughter.

Mary Jophlin, 28, is charged with Concealment of a Death. The body of
Jophlin's daughter was discovered in the crawl space of her home early
Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the home in the 1700 block of East Oak Street
after a report of missing child. After a short search of the home, they
found Smothers body; authorities say the case is now being handled as a
homicide investigation.

Family members identified the victim as Alexus Smothers.

Alexus' body has been taken to Bloomington, Illinois for an autopsy to
determine the cause of death. A pathologist specializing in children's
deaths will conduct the autopsy.

Jimmie Whitelow, spokesperson for Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services, says his office is currently investigating allegations
of abuse and neglect in this case. Jophlin is the mother of three, and
one of her other children has been placed in DCFS custody.

DCFS has had prior contact with the family, according to Whitelow.
There was a previous allegation of neglect in 2004. Jophlin's three
children were placed in DCFS custody but were returned to the her in
2005. DCFS has had no contact with the family since 2005.

Family members are struggling to come to terms with both Smothers' death and Jophlin's arrest.

Jennifer Gaskin can't understand why anyone would want to hurt her
8-year-old niece, describing Alexus as a smart, driven little girl who
was always happy.

"She didn't deserve it. She never deserved it," said Alexus' aunt
Jennifer Gaskin, "She was the best kid ever. You know she'd just be to
herself quiet, She'd go around brightening everybody's day."

Gaskin says she was shocked when she learned about Alexus' death on the
news Tuesday morning, and shortly after, that her sister Mary had been
taken into custody.

"She did things wrong, but nothing to this extent. Nothing to hurt somebody this severely," Gaskin said.

Jophlin's family has a lot of questions--and very few answers.

"I don't really feel sympathy for my sister if she did it," said Gaskin,
"I don't know what to think. Why? That's what question I have for her."

Gaskin isn't the only one struggling to make sense of Alexus' tragic
death. The girl's grandfather, Bobby Smothers, is also trying to
understand what led to this.

"How can you, how can you kill a kid. I mean my God, how can you kill a
kid. You can't kill kids, they never done nothing to nobody," he told
News Three.

Bobby Smothers remembers his granddaughter as a happy, sweet little girl
who always had a smile on her face a life cut far too short.

"It should have never came to this. Never. There's no reason on Earth," Bobby Smothers remarked.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13516&type=top

A southern Illinois woman is accused of trying to cover up the death
of her 8-year-old daughter, whose body was found in a crawl space of their home.
Franklin County prosecutors charged 28-year-old Mary Jophlin on Tuesday with concealment of a death.
Alexus Smothers’ body was found Tuesday after police came to the home in response to a report of a missing child.
Authorities haven’t yet said how the girl died. A pathologist who
specializes in children’s deaths is scheduled to perform an autopsy.
A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services says his office is investigating allegations of abuse and
neglect in the case. Jophlin’s other two children have been placed in state custody.
Online court records don’t list an attorney for Jophlin.

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/07/20/woman-accused-in-cover-up-of-daughters-death/

Accused: Mary Jophlin

WEST FRANKFORT —


Police in the southern Illinois city of West Frankfort are investigating the death of an 8-year-old girl.
Police Chief Jeff Tharp says the girl's body was found early Tuesday in her home.
Tharp didn't immediately identify the girl or say how she died or where
in the house the body was found. The Benton Evening News reports that
she was found in the home's crawl space.
The chief calls the death suspicious and says the case is being handled as a homicide.
An autopsy is planned Wednesday in Bloomington.
WSIL-TV's website reports the girl's mother, Mary Jophlin, 28, has been charged with concealment of a death.
Police were called to the home after a report of a missing child. After
a short search of the home, they reportedly found the body of the girl,
identified by family as Alexus Smothers, WSIL reports.
The TV news site reports that Jimmie Whitelow, spokesperson for
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, says his office is
currently investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in this case.
Jophlin is the mother of three, and one of her other children has been
placed in DCFS custody. DCFS has had prior contact with the family.
A trust fund has been set up in Smothers' name at First Bank in West Frankfort.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1259732350/Autopsy-today-in-Bloomington-for-girl-found-dead-in-crawlspace-of-home

No Charges Filed in Death of West Frankfort Girl
Posted: Wednesday, July 20th





WEST FRANKFORT -- Authorities are not saying what killed an 8-year-old West Frankfort girl.

Alexus Smothers' body was found in the crawl space of the house where
she lived early Tuesday morning. Her mother, 28-year-old Mary Jophlin,
remains in jail charged in connection with the child's death.

Smothers' body was taken to Bloomington, Ill., so a specialist could
perform an autopsy Wednesday morning. Authorities remain tight-lipped
about the investigation and do not plan to release a cause of death
until the toxicology report comes back, something that could take
several weeks.

Relatives of the little girl are looking forward to getting some answers.

"You just hope for the best, especially for that baby. She needs justice," said Smothers' uncle, James Randolph.

Randolph calls his niece a little angel, a girl who made a big impact in the world during her short life.

"You could be in the worst mood and look at that baby and she'd put the
biggest smile on your face," he recalled, "She just had this glow to
her."

Randolph is one of the many family members trying to understand what
happened to the child. Alexus' mother- initially reported the girl
missing and was later arrested on charges of concealing a homicide.

Police aren't commenting on when Alexus may have die pending the outcome
of her autopsy. But West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp is not
calling her death a murder.

"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that we're working it as a homicide investigation," Tharp told News Three.

And in the meantime, Alexus' family hopes that investigation leads to justice for the little girl.

"it's been bad. It's been bad on our minds, on our health. We just want justice served," said Randolph.

Funeral arrangements for Alexus Smothers will be handled by Union
Funeral Home in West Frankfort. The specifics of the services have not
been determined.
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13533&type=top

Annabeth wrote:This is horrible this poor child......and to know DCFS had been involved and actually removed another child and then gave her back is very telling...Over and over in Illinois, the state reunites these children to parents who are still abusing and neglecting them, there is no follow up....and the vicious cycle of abuse and neglect continues

Illinois seems to operate much like Florida.

Why was Casey charged with concealment of death?

God help our helpless children.

West Frankfort, Ill. —



A West Frankfort woman has lost-at least temporarily-custody of one of
her children in the wake of Tuesday's discovery of the body of another
child.
A shelter care hearing was held Wednesday in circuit court here, and as
a consequence a 6-year-old daughter of Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin, 28,
remains in protective custody of the Illinois Department of Child &
Family Services pending further court proceedings.
Zumwalt-Jophlin has been charged with concealing a death in connection
with the discovery of the body of her 8-year-old daughter, Alexus
Smothers, in a crawl space of the family home's basement.
Police responded to the residence after receiving a 911 call reporting a
missing child, and the girl's body was quickly located in the crawl
space.
Zumwalt-Jophlin told police she placed the child in the crawl space, a
city police officer testified Wednesday, and gave conflicting versions
of how the child "passed."
In one account, the death was attributed to "somewhat accidental"
circumstances, while another indicated a "not accidental" cause,
according to the officer's testimony.
Results of an autopsy performed Wednesday by a forensic pathologist
specializing in child cases have not yet been revealed, nor has a cause
of death been made public.
West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp said the investigation into the death continues.
Zumwalt-Jophlin is jailed here on a preliminary charge of concealment
of a death pending an appearance before a judge and the filing of formal
charges.
Jimmie Whitelow, a spokesman for IDCFS, said his office is investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in the case.
State child-welfare officials investigated a 2004 allegation of neglect
involving the family, and at least one Zumwalt-Jophlin's three children
was placed in state custody before the child was returned to her in
2005, Whitelow said. The department has had no contact with the family
since then, he said.
After Zumwalt-Jophlin 's arrest, her other daughter was placed in state
custody. Jennifer Gaskin, a sister of Zumwalt-Jophlin, said the
defendant's son lives with one of his grandmothers.
Gaskin said Zumwalt-Jophlin and her daughters lived with her until
about four months ago. She said Alexus "had a really hard life" and "had
to grow up really fast," yet still seemed smart, driven and generally
happy.
"She's at peace now," Gaskin said of Alexus. "She was a precious angel.
She had the most beautiful smile. I'm going to miss it so much.
"I don't really feel sympathy for my sister if she did it," Gaskin added. "I don't know what to think."
Funeral arrangements for Alexus are under the care of Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort.http://www.carmitimes.com/area_news/x121484572/Little-girls-body-found-in-crawl-space

A candlelight memorial service was held on Sunday for Alexus Smothers, when I try to post the video and link to the news story I am unable to do so.

In red letters it says "you are not allowed to post links and e-mails".

What is the reason for this?

I am also unable to send a pm.

Hello and welcome> lovinourgrandkids !
I am not certain why you were unable to post those other than you may be so new that the system has not cleared you yet.
We have had some problems in the past with nefarious individuals who try to unload cheap knock-off shoes and purses and the like. So. I am guessing that there is now a time delay built-in to the system before links and vids can be posted.
I will refer your post to our Tech Admin and see what the dealio is.
In the meantime, once again, Welcome to J4C!

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Hello and welcome> lovinourgrandkids !
I am not certain why you were unable to post those other than you may be so new that the system has not cleared you yet.
We have had some problems in the past with nefarious individuals who try to unload cheap knock-off shoes and purses and the like. So. I am guessing that there is now a time delay built-in to the system before links and vids can be posted.
I will refer your post to our Tech Admin and see what the dealio is.
In the meantime, once again, Welcome to J4C!

Thank you Tom for the welcome and for referring my post to Tech Admin.

Red emphasis is mine. These are from The Daily American and include comments from the comment section... IMFO

The Daily American
WFPD reports autopsy on Alexus Smothers is complete. We'll share whatever we learn as soon as we have more to report.
July 20 at 9:00am · Like · Comment
Michelle Ray Rone, Amy O'Daniel Warren, Trisha Hand-Wingo and 5 others like this.



The Daily American We have learned this is NOT currently the case, and our post above is an error. This morning officers are executing a search warrant on Jophlin's vehicle.
July 20 at 9:36am · 1 person

Jackie Parmely Lookin for a weapon, maybe. I heard this morning Alexus had been beat with a pipe or similar item. I am praying I heard wrong.
July 20 at 10:04am

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Daily-American/199889443381483

WEST FRANKFORT -- Dozens light candles to remember a little girl whose
life was cut too short. Friends and family remember the life of
8-year-old Alexus Smothers.
The Smothers family held a candlelight vigil Sunday night to honor the young girl.
Alexus Smothers was found dead by police early Tuesday morning in her West Frankfort home.
The girl's mother, Mary Jophlin is accused of placing her daughter in
the basement crawl space, knowing she was dead, and then reporting her
missing.
Jophlin is charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice. Prosecutors say more charges are likely.
While family members admit Alexus had a challenging home life-they say she didn't let it bring her down.
"She was just the kind of person that she walked into the room and
everybody loved her. She put a smile on everybody's face," said her aunt
Rebecca Smothers.
Only 8-years-old, Alexus knew how to love others. Relatives say there wasn't a thing in the world Alexus didn't love.
Her aunt Bobbie Chabot said she loved animals, she loved bugs, she loved people-she simply loved everything.
Now, her family is showing their love and support for Alexus by holding a candle light vigil in her honor.
"She deserves to have a million people show her love, to show her support, more than that," said Chabot.
Her aunts said despite what may have happened behind closed doors-Alexus would never let her hurt show.
"Her life wasn't perfect by no means but every time you looked at her
you would never know. You would never know that she lived the way that
she did," said her aunt Lisa Jophlin.
Her family was shocked when they heard about the death of such a special
little girl. It's painful for many to hear about the troubled life she
had.
"If I could I would take her place a million times to bring her back… without a doubt," said Rebecca Smothers.
Now all the family can do is think about Alexus and all of the good she brought to everyone's lives.
"You can't forget something so beautiful," said Chabot. She continued,
"in her little eight years she left a bigger imprint than some people
leave in a full lifetime."
Alexus' mother, Mary Jophlin, remains in the Franklin County jail.
She'll be back in court August 17th for a preliminary hearing.

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=13558&type=top


http://www.wsiltv.com/p/videos.php?videoID=8192&newsID=13558&type=top&vidType=smMov

Red emphasis is mine: IMFO.


West Frankfurt, IL (KSDK) - The Franklin County State's Attorney's Office has charged a 28-year-old woman in connection with the death of her eight-year-old daughter.

The child, Alexus Smothers, was found dead in the early morning hours of July 19. Her body was in the basement of a home in the 1700 block of E. Oak Street in West Frankfurt. Detectives said the girl died by "homicidal means."...

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/268041/3/Woman-charged-with-concealing-daughters-death

Homicide finally suggested in West Frankfort child’s death

By JACK HOWSER
Published: July 22, 2011

After days of conducting investigations into the matter of the body of an 8-year-old girl found in a crawlspace in a West Frankfort home, officials are finally using the term ‘homicide’ as a cause of death.

http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/tag/mary-jophlin/

Alexus' mother, Mary Jophlin, remains in the Franklin County jail.
She'll be back in court August 17th for a preliminary hearing.

The final results of the autopsy should be complete this week, I am wondering if additional charges will be given.

Here is a comment posted in a forum for people from Alexus' town, "THE LITTLE SISTER SAID ALEXUS CRIED NO MOMMY SEVERAL TIMES. "

So far, the mother has only been charged with concealment of a death of a child.

The little sister is safe, in the care of dcfs, but the horror that child will have to live with, hearing her sisters final words.

BENTON - A West Frankfort mother is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 8-year-old daughter last month.

Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin, 28, is accused of drowning her daughter, Alexus Nicole Smothers, "with the use of her hands, water, another object, or a combination thereof," on or about July 19, according to an amended information filed Tuesday against her by Franklin County State's Attorney Evan Owens.

The state's attorney cited several aggravating factors, including the ages of the defendant and victim, that could lead to a sentence of natural life in prison if Zumwalt-Jophlin is convicted of first-degree murder.

The other factor, Owens wrote in the amended filing, is "that the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty."

Zumwalt-Jophlin is also charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice. Authorities contend she knowingly concealed Smothers' death by placing her daughter's body in the basement of the family's residence at 1704 E. Oak St. in West Frankfort and then reported the child as missing, all the while knowing the child was lying dead in the basement.

A new bail amount of $2 million was set for Zumwalt-Jophlin, who has been incarcerated in Franklin County Jail since her July 19 arrest on the charge of concealing a suspicious death.

She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. today in Franklin County Circuit Court.

Read more: http://thesouthern.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_4fe2c93a-c86f-11e0-bc0d-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1VFMWNqDW

Marys sister says her sister is innocent, someone else killed her niece, the truth will come out.

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/article_bda594c2-c953-11e0-8b2f-001cc4c002e0.html



BENTON - Words of support were offered to the West Frankfort mother accused of drowning her 8-year-old daughter last month after the woman made a brief court appearance Wednesday in Franklin County Circuit Court.

"I love you, Mary," several friends and family members yelled as the defendant, Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin, was escorted from the courthouse.

"I love you," she responded, as she ducked her head to get into the backseat of the squad car that would take her back to Franklin County Jail, where she is detained in lieu of $2 million bond.

But family members of the little girl's father had no such words of support and said they think Zumwalt-Jophlin is rightfully facing murder charges.

Zumwalt-Jophlin, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her daughter, Alexus Smothers, last month.

According to an amended information filed Tuesday by Franklin County State's Attorney Evan Owens, Zumwalt-Jophlin used her "hands, water, another object, or a combination thereof," to cause the drowning death of her daughter on or about July 19.

She is also charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice. Those charges, which were filed July 21, allege Zumwalt-Jophlin placed her daughter's body in the basement of the family's house at 1704 E. Oak St. in West Frankfort and then called police to report her daughter missing, despite knowing her child was lying dead in the basement.

Zumwalt-Jophlin was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, but because of the newly filed first-degree murder charge, her attorney, public defender Eric Dirnbeck, asked Judge Thomas Tedeschi for a continuance, which was granted.

After Zumwalt-Jophlin was taken back to jail, her sister, Jennifer Gaskin, said the truth about Smothers' death has not yet been revealed.

"I know my sister is innocent and I'm going to stand behind her until everybody knows that. I'm not going to stop until everybody knows she is innocent and all the truth does come out," she said. "Somebody else did it, most definitely."

She declined to elaborate on her accusation regarding another suspect, but did say her sister would never hurt her child.

"She loved my niece; she loved all her kids. She begs now to see her kids, just to be able to hear their voice. There is no possible way she would have killed my niece," Gaskin said.

Smothers' paternal family members, however, said they had no doubt Zumwalt-Jophlin committed the crimes of which she is accused. They declined further comment.

Zumwalt-Jophlin will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 27.

beckymalk@gmail.com

Read more: http://thesouthern.com/news/local/article_bda594c2-c953-11e0-8b2f-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1VNx215Kc

Mary Jophlin Accused of Murdering Child
August 19, 2011 04:00 AM EDT

Mary Jophlin is an Illinois mother charged with murdering her
own child. However, her friends and family say she's innocent of
hurting the 8-year-old kid. Could the family be blinded by their love of
a family member, or is Mary Jophlin actually guilty of committing this senseless act?

The family members of the woman say she's been wrongfully charged
and that someone else killed her 8-year-old daughter. In fact, they say
that there have been details emerging in this case that will prove the woman's innocence.
This case began when the 8-year-old child was
found in the basement of their home after Mary reported her missing.
This occurred just days after Casey Anthony was released from jail in
Florida, so immediately people were trying to compare this death to the
death of Caylee Marie Anthony. Not long after the little girl was
discovered dead, Mary Jophlin was taken into custody and charged with murder.
Anyway, the family members say she cries all the time, and
she misses her kids while she is being held on $2 million bond for the
murder charges among others. They say there is no way she could have
killed her daughter because she went to bed that night. They claim
someone else had access to the woman's home, but they don't know who.
This isn't helping their claims of her innocence.
"My sister put her trust in a lot of people. My sister is a very trusting person. That
person came there later on, yes," said Mary's sister, Jennifer Gaskin.
It would help if the family members of the accused child murderer could
produce some more details, like what kind of people she trusted to be
alone in her home at night while her daughter slept. If they know this
woman as personally as they claim to be saying she is absolutely
innocent, then surely they must know who were allowed in and out of her
home during this time.
Until they are able to prove it, Mary sits
behind bars on suspicion that she murdered her daughter. Investigators
say that autopsy reports show drowning as the main cause of death in the
youngster, adding further suspicion toward Mary Jophlin. How'dshe wind
up in the basement? Perhaps, and this is just a theory, her daughter
drowned accidentally and she panicked. Reporting her missing instead of
dead probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Or perhaps she was
fed up with being a mom and decided to off her like so many mothers do, it seems.
---~~*~~---
©Chelsea Hoffman
is the Author of "Chloe and Louis," and the "Fear Chronicles," series
of books. She also covers a myriad of true crime stories online. Visit ChelseaHoffman.Com to follow the blog and contact Chelsea directly.

Isn't is just so typical in these cases where there has been a history of abuse and neglect, the family members are now expending their energy on defending the accused. Where were they all when Alexus and her siblings needed someone to step up to the plate for them?

kiwimom wrote:Isn't is just so typical in these cases where there has been a history of abuse and neglect, the family members are now expending their energy on defending the accused. Where were they all when Alexus and her siblings needed someone to step up to the plate for them?

I am sick to read all of this ....poor baby.....happened in my own state...

West Frankfort mother indicted in murder of her child
Story
Discussion
THE SOUTHERN STAFF | Posted: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:17 am | 1 Comment
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Paul Newton / The Southern
In this file photo Mary Jophlin is led into the Franklin County Courthouse for a hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 17, in Benton.
Related Video


Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin walk 9-27-11
FRANKLIN COUNTY - A West Frankfort mother has been indicted in the July murder of her 8-year-old daughter in Franklin County.
Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin waived her right to a speedy trial and plead not guilty to the charges against her Tuesday morning. In addition to first-degree murder, Zumwalt-Jophlin also faces charges of concealment of a homicide and obstructing justice.
She was read an indictment by a Franklin County Grand Jury Tuesday in the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton.
Zumwalt-Jophlin is accused of drowning her daughter, Alexus Smothers, on or around July 19, according to the indictment.
Franklin County State's Attorney Evan Owens has said Zumwalt-Jophlin used her "hands, water, another object, or a combination thereof," to cause the drowning death of her daughter." He also alleges Zumwalt-Jophlin placed her daughter's body in the basement of the family's house at 1704 E. Oak St. in West Frankfort and called police to report her daughter missing, despite knowing her child was lying dead in the basement.
Zumwalt-Jophlin remains in jail on $2 million bond.
Becky Malkovich provided the information for this report



Read more: http://thesouthern.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_f9da6272-e91c-11e0-8836-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1ZBLXvVau

Here is a link to an article about Alexus' funeral arrangements with pictures of this adorable little girl. This is so sad--I hope justice is served for the precious little one.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/15122618/charges-filed-against-mother-of-8-year-old-found-dead

If pictures were previously posted, they weren't showing up so I found some and wanted to post it for others.

13 - Pre-trial 11/23/2011 9:30 A.M. TBA A

http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_information.jsp?court=IL028015J&ocl=IL028015J,2011CF287,IL028015JL2011CF287D1