Loves Park woman dies awaiting trial for her child's death

LOVES PARK - A Loves Park woman awaiting trial on charges of killing her 22-month-old daughter has died.

Sandra Scudder, 54, died Oct. 11 in Kindred Hospital in Sycamore after a battle with cancer. She faced first-degree and involuntary manslaughter charges in the June 13, 2002, death of Esther Scudder, one of two daughters she had adopted in China.

Scudder was free on $300,000 bond. Her trial had been delayed at least twice, most recently Sept. 22. The most recent delay apparently was for health reasons. An earlier delay was requested because attorneys were settling complicated pretrial motions and interviewing expert witnesses.

Loves Park Police, the Winnebago County coroner's and state's attorney's offices, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated Esther's death for two months before arresting Scudder at her home Aug. 12, 2002.

Autopsy results showed that Esther died from blunt trauma to the head.

Services for Sandra Scudder are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday in Delehanty Funeral Home, 401 River Lane. Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.