Latest news with #SurahAmon
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Mother, 31, 'drowned one year-old son in Lake Michigan because she was depressed about boyfriend dumping her'
An Illinois mother accused of drowning her baby boy in Lake Michigan during a mental health spiral has been held without bail as she awaits trial for first–degree murder. Surah Amon, 31, allegedly walked into the water with her 14–month–old son Sir Watson last Friday night at South Shore Beach in Chicago and 'let go' of him before screaming to bystanders that she'd killed her baby and wanted to die. The child was pulled from the lake by the Chicago Fire Department's Marine Unit and rushed to Comer Children's Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Authorities say the tragedy unfolded just hours after Amon was dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of the home she shared with the boy's father and grandmother, following a violent confrontation that ended with police serving her with an order of protection. Prosecutors revealed during Tuesday's bond hearing that Amon had a history of clashes with the paternal grandmother, who had repeatedly called police to have her removed from the house. On July 11, the grandmother was granted an order of protection – but allowed Amon to stay anyway when it wasn't immediately enforced. That changed on Thursday, July 17, when Amon allegedly struck the woman, prompting police to serve the order. But with nowhere to go, Amon was permitted to stay one more night. On Friday afternoon, another relative called 911 to report Amon was 'having mental health issues.' Later that evening, the grandmother returned home from work and found her still there. She phoned police twice – but by the time officers arrived, Amon had vanished with the child. Around 9:45 p.m., beachgoers at Chicago's Yacht Harbor spotted Amon in deeper water screaming that she'd drowned her son. 'I killed my son. I want to die,' she allegedly yelled, according to police. Sir Watson was found unresponsive in the water by a CFD helicopter team. First responders performed chest compressions, but to no avail. Amon was pulled from the lake with cuts on her wrists and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation. She later confessed to police that she had killed her son after being 'kicked out' by the boy's father, saying she had wanted to end her own life. At Tuesday's hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Todd Kleist told the court: 'She's the person who's supposed to protect this child… and she is the one who killed him. If she's capable of doing this to a helpless and innocent child, then she is also a danger to anyone else she comes into contact with.' Judge Suzanna Ortiz agreed to deny bail, ruling Amon posed a threat to herself and the community due to what she called a 'serious mental health crisis.' Family members wept in the courtroom as prosecutors outlined the child's final moments. Amon's sister, Claudia, told WLS that the family had desperately tried to intervene earlier in the day. 'Three hours before this happened, me and my sister made a call to the police to have a mental health team come out,' she said. 'When the police showed up, they told us there was nothing they could do because my sister was not being violent.' Amon remains in custody and is due back in court on August 13. She has no prior criminal history.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: Woman ordered detained after allegedly drowning son
Good afternoon, Chicago. A Chicago woman drowned her infant son when she walked into Lake Michigan and let go of the 14-month-old boy, Cook County prosecutors alleged today. Finding that she is a danger to the public and apparently suffering from a mental health crisis, a Cook County judge ordered Surah Amon detained following a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building attended by family members who sobbed in the courtroom's gallery. Amon, 31, is charged with murder. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History The measure, signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday, clarifies what has long been a point of contention over how authorities should handle squatters — people who are living in a residence without the permission of the property's legal tenant or owner. Read more here. More top news stories: A 12,692-square-foot mansion on Sheridan Road in Winnetka sold today for its listing price of just below $9.5 million. Read more here. More top business stories: Pitcher Davis Martin is slated to return from the injured list (right forearm strain) and start tonight for the Sox, who have won a season-high four straight. Read more here. More top sports stories: Prison bars that were once used as instruments of confinement at the Cook County Jail will be repurposed as musical instruments as part of a performance tomorrow by Chicago-based artist Maria Gaspar. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug- and alcohol-ravaged id — of heavy metal, died today, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. Read more here. More top stories from around the world:
USA Today
21-07-2025
- USA Today
Woman charged with murder for allegedly drowning 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan
A Chicago woman has been charged with murder for the drowning of a 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan over the weekend. Surah Amon, 31, was charged on Monday, July 21, with first-degree murder and murder with a strong probability for death or injury for the death of the boy on Friday, July 18, a Chicago Police Department news release states. Just before 10 p.m. CT on July 18, police responded to the 7000 block of S. South Shore Drive, located on South Shore Beach in Chicago's Yacht Harbor. Amon was identified as the suspect in the child's death. Chicago Police Department Public Information Officer Anthony Spicuzza told USA TODAY that the boy was transported to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Witnesses Say She Took Baby into Lake Michigan — Moments Later, Only the Woman Returned
NEED TO KNOW A Chicago woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 1-year-old boy on Friday night Police alleged the 31-year-old woman drowned the 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan The 1-year-old boy was pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospitalA Chicago woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after police allege she drowned a 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan on Friday night, PEOPLE has learned. Surah Amon was arrested shortly after the alleged murder took place late Friday after witnesses called police to report seeing the 31-year-old woman in the water, according to NBC 5, CBS 2, and ABC 7. When Chicago police arrived at the scene, they discovered Amon still in the water and soon realized she had been drowning the young boy, according to reports. The Chicago Fire Department's Marine Unit took the boy out of the water, but he was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly afterwards, according to ABC 7. Police have not confirmed what Amon's relationship was to the 1-year-old boy, according to CBS 2. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to a news release obtained by PEOPLE, Chicago police said Amon was expected to appear in court on Monday morning, where she faces one felony charge for first-degree murder and another felony charge for murder with a strong probability of death. Read the original article on People
CBS News
21-07-2025
- CBS News
Chicago woman charged in drowning death of baby in Lake Michigan
A woman was charged in the drowning death of a baby boy in Lake Michigan on Friday night. Chicago police said Surah Amon, 31, was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of strong probability of death. Police said officers responded to a call for service in the 7000 block of S. South Shore Drive just before 10 p.m. The body of the 1-year-old boy was recovered by the Chicago Fire Department Marine Unit and was taken to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Initial police audio indicated that officers believed that the woman was a mother who was trying to kill her son. Amon is expected in court on Monday for a detention hearing.
