Peoria Standard

September 19, 2024, Peoria, IL – A detention hearing was held today for Andrea N. Luncsford, 25, who was charged yesterday with First Degree Murder and Endangering the Life and Health of a Child after her one-month-old baby was found dead in the East Bluff area inside a U-Haul truck. The State’s Petition to Detain Luncsford was granted, and she will remain in custody until trial.

Around 7 pm Monday, police responded to the 2400 block of N. Peoria in the East Bluff on a report of a baby not breathing. The baby, identified as Grayson Luncsford, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to witnesses, when the defendant found Grayson unresponsive, she called family members and informed them that Grayson wasn’t breathing. When the family arrived on the scene, it was evident he was beyond help.

When officers spoke to the defendant, she acted erratically and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. The next day, she told investigators she had been with Grayson all day and had given him multiple bottles. The forensic pathologist's preliminary opinion indicated that Grayson had died from negligence, possible excessive heat exposure, dehydration, and malnourishment. It was also determined that Grayson had been dead for 12 to 24 hours at the time he was found.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.

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