Preliminary hearing for Galatia woman charged with murder

SALINE COUNTY - A crowd of people gathered outside of the Saline County Sheriff's Office Thursday during a preliminary hearing for a Galatia woman charged with the murder of her 8-month-old daughter.

Saline County State's Attorney Molly Wilson Kasiar filed three charges of murder against Allisha N. Banks, 28, of Galatia. The charges accuse Banks of causing a brain injury to her daughter on March 9, 2019, which resulted in the girl's death three days later.

Bail had been set at $1 million. Saline County Sheriff James "Whipper" Johnson said some gathered Thursday in front of the sheriff's office were there to pay Banks' bail, which was $100,000.

It is unclear whether bail was posted Thursday.

The Illinois State Police's Child Death Task Force investigated the death for about a year before charges were filed against Banks. A motion hearing is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 in Saline County Courtroom B.