MT. VERNON, IL — The Illinois Appellate Court has vacated the 2019 conviction of an Mt. Vernon woman for her involvement in the brutal battery of her infant son that resulted in his permanent disability.

The Court remanded the 2017 case against Abagail Adkins back to Jefferson County for a new trial after finding she “received ineffective assistance of counsel” after the defense attorney allowed a Mt. Vernon Police detective to interview Adkins without the attorney being present.

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 L.S. 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 must each serve 85 percent of their 20-year sentences.

Adkins ultimately appealed her conviction and earlier this month the Fifth Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon vacated her conviction and remanded the case back to Jefferson County for a new trial.