By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The family of a Bloomington woman charged with concealing her 7-month-old daughter’s death, believes she is mentally ill and needs help. According to DCFS, this is not the first time the mother has been accused of endanger the life of her children.

Within the past two years, the Department of Children and Family Services has been involved multiple times with Kimberlee Burton. She’s now being charged by prosecutors with concealment of the death of her daughter, Zaraz Walker.

According to DCFS, after Burton gave birth to Zaraz Walker in July of 2021, hospital staff reported Burton was behaving erratically. But, Burton herself went to DCFS to speak with them, and soon thereafter, the report was considered unfounded.

Although, there were two other investigations into Burton, beginning in 2020.

The first, abandonment. According to DCFS, the claim was she left her children with a family member. That was also deemed unfounded.

Then in May of 2021, an allegation she abused her oldest daughter. The father removed that child from the home. According to DCFS, last week that case did indicate findings of abuse.

While Burton sits in jail now, baby Zaraz Walker is believed dead.

“There’s a missing 7 month old. She has not been located and we just don’t want that,” said Sgt. John Fermon, spokesperson for Bloomington Police.

Police say there are looking for any information to locate the baby.

“If we get good information, we’ll do another large coordinated search and we’ll work with other agencies so we can find her,” said Fermon.

Heart of Illinois ABC spoke with Burton’s family. They believe she is mentally ill and needs help. They also say they are trying to find the baby to make sure she has a proper burial.

“We will not stop until we find baby Zaraz,” said Fermon.