Rica Rountree’s mother Anntionetta Simmons took to the sidewalk in front of the McLean County Courthouse Friday morning asking for answers.
Rica, 8, died after a blunt force injury to the abdomen by Cynthia Clay, the girlfriend of Rica Rountree’s father, Richard Rountree.
Clay was in court Friday after requesting a new trial.
Rica was transported from Normal, Ill. to a Peoria-area hospital for treatment on January 25, 2019 and died the following day on January 26 after a blunt force injury.
On November 19, 2019, the jury found Cynthia Clay, also known as Cynthia Baker, guilty of first-degree murder.
She was also found guilty of aggravated battery, endangering the life of a child, and all three counts of domestic battery.
But on December 13, 2019, Clay filed a request for a new trial and withdrawal of previous counsel.
According to the McLean County Circuit Clerk, the request comes after claims of error of ineffective assistance of counsel.
