Parents arrested in death of infant
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">The parents of a 5-month-old infant found dead in his Peoria home last week were arrested Monday night on a preliminary charge of involuntary manslaughter.
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Tracy D. Hermann, 21, and James E. Sargent, 23, arrested about 9 p.m. at the Peoria Police Department. Detectives had been investigating the death of their child, Benjamin Sargent, who was pronounced dead Feb. 12 after emergency crews were called to the house for an unresponsive baby.
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">James Sargent was at the home when police arrived. He had been left to care for his son while Hermann, the baby's mother, was away in Iowa, authorities said.
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Benjamin Sargent, whom rescue crews found in a car seat placed in a crib, weighed just 10 pounds, one factor that led authorities to deem the death "suspicious."
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll has said she believes the baby "had not been well cared for."
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Ingersoll also has said it was unknown how long Benjamin Sargent was dead before police were called.
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Hermann and James Sargent are in custody at the Peoria County Jail awaiting formal charges.
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