Parents Arrested In Peoria Baby's Death

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By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Feb 18, 2008 at 10:51 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 19, 2008 at 5:20 PM CST

Peoria Police Monday night said they had arrested the biological parents of 5-month-old Benjamin Sargent in connection with the boy's death last week.
Tracey D. Hermann, 21, and James Eugene Sargent, 23, were arrested on one count each of Involuntary Manslaughter.
Benjamin Sargent was found dead in a car seat February 12 at his home at 3012 W. Proctor.
Autopsy results were inconclusive, but Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said the baby had not been properly cared for.
Police said the case remains under investigation. The state's attorney's office must still do formal charging.

Monday, Aug 25 at 7:36 PM MOTHER OF 4 BEAUTIFUL BOYS wrote ...

I AM A 27 YEAR OLD SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 BOYS. I HAD MY FIRST CHILD AT ONLY 17. AND I AM AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A GOOD MOM! ID DIE PROTECTING MY KIDS AS ANY REAL MOM WOULD! BEN WE LOVE YOU!! WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU IN HAD WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY! WE ARE YOUR FAMILY REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPENED! WE LOVE YOU POOR SWEET BABY!! IM SO SO SORRY!!!!

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Wednesday, Jul 30 at 11:12 PM babybensvoice wrote ...

I hope they rot.

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Tuesday, Jul 29 at 8:47 AM Summer and Thomas Wood wrote ...

It hurts my heart to hear about this. I just found out. The day that he died my daughter was born.These parents deserve an eye for and eye. That poor child. No one ask to be treated that way. They should have given him up for adoption at least. Forget the invoulantary manslaughter get these two for MURDER. Cause that is what they did. they murdered a baby.

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Thursday, Mar 6 at 6:54 PM unnone wrote ...

baby ben rest in peace we all love you and i wish to see you soon love u form your family every one

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Friday, Feb 22 at 12:59 AM Anonymous wrote ...

All this makes me so sickened...the parents look like a bunch of crrackheads in the first place, but no one...NO ONE should ever put a baby through something like this...EVER. No human being deserves torture like this besides the parents

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Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:33 PM Jennifer wrote ...

This is actually for the person who wrote in (Anonymous) if you think that the "Parents" of this baby will be found innocent you are just as sick as they are. Sure a HEALTHY NORMAL child can be under weight. Explain why the child had no food or water for 8 days, and why his back, legs, buttocks were eaten by his own stool and urine. And to keep a child straped in a car seat for 8 days in a snowsuit in a 80 degree room is not NORMAL !! even a prison term is not a good enough punishment !!!

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Thursday, Feb 21 at 6:14 PM sus wrote ...

This poor little baby,Life delt him a low blow...I hope the parents get what the justice system deals to them...A buckled car seat,no food for 8 days,no water for 8 days,no change of clothes for 8 days..Then they can find someone else to blame for this babys life...

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Thursday, Feb 21 at 2:21 PM Diane Dalton wrote ...

Any human that treats a baby this way deserves the ultimate punishment. Their punishment should be what they did to that poor innocent baby. Put them in a room with no food nor water until the Devil takes them to his home. Fire and brimstone is actually too mild for what they did!!!

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Thursday, Feb 21 at 12:14 PM a parent wrote ...

this is an absolutely horrible thing these "parents", and I use that term loosely, did to that poor child, no remorse by the "mother", only blame of the "father" they both deserve the death pentalty, it is obvious they are drug addicts and don't care about anything or anyone around them - if a family member had to take the 3 year old and Grandma had to take care of the 5 month old why in the world hadn't someone from the so called family contact protective services those children had no advocate

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Thursday, Feb 21 at 8:51 AM ashley highley wrote ...

stories like this just make me sick. it is so sad that there are so many wonderful people out there begging and pleading for a child that cant have one on their own and people like them just steal their life. innocent life that is not theirs to take. it is just not fair.

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Tuesday, Feb 19 at 9:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...

It is not uncommon for a infant to be under weight. I know of a little girl who has the same problem and she was hospitalized to see what was going on with her and they found nothing wrong with her. So to the Hermann and Sargent family "look to the hills for where our help cometh. I belive these parents will be found innocent of these charges.

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