Oak Lawn Baby Dies, Father Charged With Aggravated Child Abuse

OAK LAWN, IL — An eight-week-old baby died Sunday morning in what is believed to be a case of shaken baby syndrome. The father, Edward Janiszewski, 37, of Oak Lawn, is charged with aggravated battery to a child, a class X felony. More charges may be forthcoming.

Oak Lawn police were called to Advocate Children’s Hospital for a report of an infant with severe head and brain trauma. Medical staff told police the child had initially been seen on May 27, with was thought to be a stomach illness and dehydration. Over the next several days, the child was in and out of the hospital and treated with an IV.

The baby was brought back to the hospital on May 30, when the child was found unresponsive. The hospital child abuse team was notified and diagnosed the child with severe head and brain trauma, consistent with shaken baby syndrome, police said.

Janiszewski was brought to the Oak Lawn police station. After a lengthy interrogation by detectives, police said Janiszewski admitted that he shook the baby and slammed her head on a cushion in the early morning hours of May 30.

Janiszewski appeared Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building where bail was set at $75,000. He was able to post bond.

The baby, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as Adaline Janiszewski, died early Sunday morning. An autopsy is pending. Once the autopsy is completed, Oak Lawn detectives will review the case with the Cook County State’s Attorney to upgrade the charges, police said.