Decision due Monday in 2-year-old's death

ROCKFORD - Authorities will announce Monday if charges will be filed in the death of a Loves Park toddler.

Esther Scudder, 2, died June 14 at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Several agencies including Loves Park police, the state's attorney's office and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services have investigated.

DCFS removed Esther's sister, Bethany, 5, from the home shortly after Esther's death. The girl has not been returned to the home, and the DCFS investigation is pending.

Loves Park police were called to the Scudder home at 7:12 p.m. June 13. They found Esther's mother, Sandra Scudder, administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the girl, who was struggling to breathe. The only other person home at the time was Bethany.

Esther, who was born in Hunan Province, China, was the adopted daughter of Scudder.