More information on county child's death

The 3-year-old boy who died Thursday, Oct. 20, has been identified as Hunter Drew of Carlinville.

Ashley N. Bottoms, age 33 of Carlinville, was arrested on Oct. 20 and felony charges were filed on Saturday, including involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death. Bail was set at $250,000. A preliminary hearing for Bottoms is scheduled for Nov. 10.

Charging documents indicate that the 3-year-old boy was thrown by Bottoms in an attempt to break up a fight between two juveniles. The boy's head hit a ledge and the impact caused blunt force trauma resulting in a brain bleed. Bottoms reportedly drove the child around for about three hours rather then seek medical help. She then went to Litchfield to pick up her boyfriend, the child's father. When someone noticed the child was unresponsive, he was taken to the Litchfield fire station where it was determined that the little boy was deceased.

Litchfield police determined that events leading to Hunter Drew's death took place in Macoupin County and a joint investigation was launched.

Other information regarding the short life of Hunter Drew revealed that he had recently been under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.

He had been placed in the care of the boy's uncle and girlfriend, now wife, Kiel and Hailee Quigley. The couple took care of Hunter for almost a year while he was 2 years old. Hunter's mother, Kiel Quigley's sister, had asked the couple to care for the child. A court ordered that Hunter be returned to the custody of his father in August.

The Quigleys stated that while Hunter lived with their family, they worked to help him with developmental delays, dietary issues and other medical concerns. Once that was under control, Hunter thrived.

On Friday, DCFS issued the following statement: "The Department of Children and Family Services is deeply committed to protecting vulnerable children and strengthening families, and the loss of any child is tragic. A court ordered that the child be reunified with his father in August, after a service plan and home safety checklist was completed. A case worker visited the home six times in September and October to ensure the child was in a safe environment."

Funeral services for Hunter Lee Drew were held on Monday.