Bloomington mother charged in missing child case found not guilty by reason of insanity | Main stories

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WAND) — A mother accused of covering up her child’s death has been found not guilty by reason of insanity according to the WEEK.

Baby, Now Walker was originally declared missing in February 2022 when Bloomington police received a call requesting a well-being check. The police carried out operational measures and tried to establish the father’s location. Now he has never been found and is presumed dead.

In March, the mother of Now Kimberly Burton was enrolled unfit to stand trial after assessing suitability.

On Thursday, WEEK reported that Burton appeared for a scheduled trial, during which Burton’s public defender and prosecutors agreed to the facts and outcome of the case.

McLean County Circuit Judge Casey Costigan acquitted Burton by reason of insanity. Under Illinois law, a person can be found not guilty by reason of insanity if they lack a “substantial capacity to realize the criminality” of their behavior. Two psychiatrists agreed Burton was on the schizophrenic spectrum, and one said she also had post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Illinois Department of Human Services was ordered to take Burton into custody and make treatment recommendations to the court. DHS inpatient care could last up to six years, the same length of time she could face in prison if convicted in the case.

Burton’s next court appearance is scheduled for December.

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