PEORIA, Ill. – A tragic case has unfolded in Illinois, where two women are facing first-degree murder charges after allegedly giving a 13-month-old child a lethal dose of an over-the-counter sleep aid.
A Peoria County grand jury indicted 26-year-old Tasheaunna Williams and 27-year-old Nausicca Thomas in connection with the death of little Hezekiah Williams, who passed away on December 27, 2024.
Authorities say the incident began on December 19 when emergency responders were called to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for an unresponsive infant. Despite efforts to save him, Hezekiah did not survive.
Investigators later determined that Williams and Thomas had administered an “excessive” amount of ZzzQuil, an adult sleep aid, to the child. Toxicology results confirmed the presence of the substance, leading prosecutors to escalate the charges from aggravated battery to murder.
Both women were initially arrested on January 10, but authorities waited for lab results before filing the more severe charges. Prosecutors have now requested that they remain in custody until their trials.
The case has shocked the Peoria community, with many questioning how such a tragedy could happen. The women are scheduled for arraignment on February 27, where they will face the full weight of the law for their alleged actions.
As the investigation continues, the heartbreaking loss of Hezekiah Williams serves as a devastating reminder of the dangers of administering medication to children without medical supervision.
