SYCAMORE – A DeKalb County judge ruled Friday afternoon that interviews with police can be used as evidence at the trial of a woman accused of slamming a baby to the floor resulting in fatal injuries.
Alexandra B. Hoyle, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 2-year-old Khalil Body, who died in November 2017. Judge Philip Montgomery denied a motion from her defense to bar statements Hoyle made to police from her trial, and to quash arrests.
Montgomery ruled Hoyle’s statements were admissible because she voluntarily spoke with police after the alleged incident and was not held against her will.
Montgomery said Hoyle was arrested after she demonstrated with a doll what had happened to Khalil. Police said in court records that Hoyle slammed the boy’s head on the floor Nov. 10, 2017, in her apartment in the 800 block of Ridge Drive because he wouldn’t chew his food. He died days later.
“By that point, there was probable cause to arrest the defendant,” Montgomery said. “Therefore, the defendant’s motion to quash arrest and suppress evidence is denied.”
The motion, if granted, would not have allowed anything from the point of Hoyle’s arrest onward to be admissable in court.
Gary Johnson, one of Hoyle’s lawyers, said he was disappointed the judge denied the motion and declined further comment. First Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Klein was not available for comment.
The case is due back in court 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22. If convicted, Hoyle could serve 20 to 60 years in prison and would have to serve her sentence in its entirety.