SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield woman arraigned in Sangamon County court on nine counts, including five aggravated criminal battery charges, was ordered detained in jail at a March 10 hearing.
Ashley C. Wardlow, 40, of the 1900 block of North 20th Street pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included unlawful restrain, domestic battery and two counts of endangering health/life of a child.
Wardlow’s husband, co-defendant Willie E. Wardlow, had his court appearance moved to March 11.
Ashley Wardlow, wearing a jail-issued jumpsuit and glasses, was seated at the defense table for the hearing. She mostly stared straight ahead.
A woman who was inside the couple’s home on March 8 witnessed a child tied up and blindfolded. She began filming and took the evidence to the Springfield Police.
At the home, SPD officers found a 5-year-old, identified as “A.W.” in court Tuesday, who was malnourished, had marks and scars on her body, including lacerations to a bottom lip, multiple broken bones and a sock covering a burn on her hand, said Sangamon County Assistant State’s Attorney Kendra Hansel.
After being transported to a local hospital, “A.W.” became lethargic and suffered two brain bleeds leading to surgery, Hansel told the court.
Hansel said if “A.W.” would have still been in the house, “no one would have noticed.”
Hansel said that Willie Wardlow told police that “A.W.” left her hand in the oven and the sock “fused with the burn.”
“A.W.,” according to Willie Wardlow’s comments to officers, “defecates everywhere,” Hansel told the court. Ashley Wardlow acknowledged that her husband “strikes” “A.W.”
Hansel pointed out that Ashley Wardlow pleaded guilty to battery/bodily harm to a child in Sangamon County in 2020. She was placed on probation.
Wardlow’s attorney, Stephanie Hammer, said while the allegations were “emotional and gut-wrenching to hear,” Wardlow denied many of the statements attributed to her.
In appealing for her release, Hammer said when services were offered to Wardlow and “people are at the ready, she is able to succeed.”
Seventh Circuit Court Associate Judge Rudolph Braud said the state had met its burden in ordering Wardlow be detained.
Hansel said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had taken protective custody of all five of the biological children belonging to the couple. They resided in the north end home as did two other adults.
Wardlow’s next court appearance is March 19.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New details emerge in Springfield child abuse case
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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