Mother of Rica Rountree, attorneys plan to file lawsuits against Illinois, others in 8 year old’s death

Posted on December 9, 2020
Prosecutors during Baker’s trial said she kicked the child so hard in the stomach that she died of the injuries. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The family of Rica Rountree and several attorneys plan to file state and federal lawsuits against state agencies and individuals who they say are responsible for the 8 year old’s death in 2019.

Attorneys Ben Crump, Seven Levin, Andrew Thut, Julie Murphy and Anntionetta Rountree, Rica Rountree’s mother, will hold a virtual press conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the lawsuits.

The lawyers plan to file the lawsuits against the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and individuals such as Richard Rountree, Rica Rountree’s father, and his girlfriend Cynthia Clay Baker, who has already been found guilty in Rica’s murder and sentenced to life in prison.

In the announcement for the press conference, the attorneys say the state employees, Richard Rountree and Baker, “violated Rica’s constitution rights by failing to stop repeated instances of abuse reported by the girl’s mother and a school nurse.”

Prosecutors during Baker’s trial said she kicked the child so hard in the stomach that she died of the injuries. During the trial, the jury saw videos of repeated physical abuse.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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