County woman charged in death of 3-year-old

Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison, Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl, Carlinville Police Chief David Haley and Litchfield Police Chief Kenneth Ryker announced on Saturday, Oct. 22, that Ashley N. Bottoms, age 33, of Carlinville has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death, a class 2 and a class 3 felony respectively. The Honorable Joshua A. Meyer set bond in the matter at $250,000.

On Oct. 20, a report was made at the Litchfield Fire Station of a minor child in distress. Emergency personnel responded to a vehicle where it was determined the minor was deceased. The initial investigation was handled by the Litchfield Police Department. It was eventually determined the acts happened in Macoupin County and a coordinated investigation between the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, Carlinville Police Department and Litchfield Police Department was conducted. Multiple search warrants were executed with the assistance of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney office. Interviews were held at the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department by detectives from Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department and the Litchfield Police Department. Bottoms was detained on the criminal charges and bond was set on Oct. 22.

“Crimes against children are, by their very nature, some of the worst crimes, with perpetrators leaving families destroyed by their actions,” commented Garrison. “It is alleged that this defendant, a trusted household member, committed this horrific act. I would like to thank Sheriff Shawn Kahl, Chief David Haley and Chief Kenneth Ryker for their agencies coordinated effort. I would also like to thank detectives Ryan Dixon, Brian Lawton, Brian Reed and Larry Rayburn for their swift actions leading to these charges.”