Mother indicted for murder of 3-year-old son Leland Chipoco in Chicago

A grand jury has indicted Felicia Hirn, 32, for the murder of her son Leland Chipoco in Chicago. Prosecutors are also seeking a DNA sample from Hirn as part of the investigation.

Grand jury indicts Chicago mother over death of toddler son

A grand jury has formally indicted Felicia Hirn, 32, on charges relating to the death of her three-year-old son, Leland Chipoco, according to statements made in Cook County criminal court, abc7chicago.com reports.

Prosecutors allege Hirn choked and shook Leland to death in June 2025. On Thursday, they told a judge they are seeking a DNA sample from Hirn as part of the ongoing investigation, though no decision on that request has yet been made. Hirn's attorney, who did not appear in court, informed the judge he objects to the DNA request and wants the case to proceed to trial.

Hirn was arrested in Maryland and extradited to Chicago following inquiries by the ABC7 I-Team into Leland's death, which had gone unsolved for more than 15 months. A court document states that Hirn claimed Leland's injuries resulted from a fall from a slide. Reports obtained by the I-Team from the Cook County Medical Examiner and a hospital, however, flagged potential child abuse.

Leland's father, Mark Chipoco, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the indictment.

"The sadness, the anger, all the emotions that I couldn't even comprehend, I can't even explain. But at the same time, I'm just happy that she's in jail. It's going to be a long, a long, long process, but I'm not giving up on it," Chipoco said.

He added that his son's memory continues to drive him forward. "I'm not giving up on my family and I'm not giving up on my son," he said.

Keisha Washington, grandmother of Leland's half-siblings, described her reaction to the indictment as one of relief rather than celebration.

"I guess not necessarily happy, but relieved — relieved that she's going to have to answer to what she did," Washington said. She acknowledged the road ahead remains difficult. "It's still heavy because the process is just starting. We still have a long ways to go. We as a family have a long ways to go."

Hirn remains held in Cook County Jail on three felony charges, including murder and child abuse.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)