MT. VERNON, IL — The retrial process will begin next week for a 25-year-old Mt. Vernon woman for her involvement in the brutal battery of her infant son.

The Court has remanded the 2017 case against Abagail Adkins back to Jefferson County for a new trial after finding she “received ineffective assistance of counsel” when  the defense attorney allowed a Mt. Vernon Police detective to interview Adkins without the attorney being present. Adkins was returned this week to the Jefferson County Jail from the Illinois Department of Corrections and her bond status has been reinstated at $250,000 – the amount set following her initial arrest.

Adkins and the baby’s father Tyrone Steele were both arrested and charged in April 2017 with Class X aggravated child abuse resulting in permanent disability, following a report from Cardinal Glennon regarding possible child abuse of the couple’s infant son. According to court documents, the neonatologist at Cardinal Glennon became concerned because the child had an enlarged head. An ultrasound and CT scan ultimately revealed the baby had bleeding between his skull and brain. Other tests revealed the infant also had 14 rib fractures, a skull fracture with brain tissue injury. Court records show that while Steele was the one who assaulted the child, Adkins was also charged because she was aware of the abuse but did not stop it or report it. Two years later both Steele and Adkins were convicted to 20-years each in the Illinois Department of Corrections. They were both ordered to serve 85 percent of their 20-year sentences. Adkins ultimately appealed her conviction leading the Fifth Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon to vacate her conviction and remand the case back to Jefferson County for a new trial.

Her case is now scheduled for a Tuesday status hearing in the case.