An attorney for an Oak Lawn grandmother accused in the gruesome killing of her granddaughter is apparently trying to get her alleged confession thrown out on the grounds that she was not mentally competent to understand her rights when she was arrested.
Alfreda Giedrojc, 64, was found to be unfit to stand trial after police took her into custody for the October 2013 slaying inside her home of 6-month-old Vivian Summers. But a Cook County judge ruled a year later that she was fit to face first-degree murder charges after she had received treatment for a major depressive disorder.
Authorities allege the Polish immigrant, who doesn’t speak English, beat her granddaughter with a sledgehammer and slashed the throat of the infant when she wouldn’t be quiet.
Giedrojc admitted to killing the child in a videotaped statement made to Oak Lawn police, prosecutors have said.
Michael Wilson, assistant Cook County public defender, raised questions in court motions Thursday about whether the initial psychological evaluation, which prevented Giedrojc from going to trial at that time because on her mental state, showed that she was not capable of understanding her right to get a lawyer and not to speak to investigators when she was arrested by police. A ruling is pending on that motion.
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Meanwhile, a psychologist with a history of analyzing those standing trial for, or convicted of, killing family members wants another chance to examine Giedrojc. The defense late last year brought in Dr. Robert Hanlon, a clinical neuropsychologist with a practice in Chicago, for an evaluation after Giedrojc was deemed able to stand trial.
“He can’t give an opinion right now,” Wilson said.
Hanlon is the author of the book “Survived By One,” which describes his time with Tom Odle, who is serving life in an Illinois prison for murdering his family.
Joe Summers of Bolingbrook, the child’s father, had left his daughter at Giedrojc’s home while he went across the street to his brother-in-law’s house, authorities said. When Giedrojc’s husband, Boleslaw, left to check on Summers, Giedrojc allegedly repeatedly hit the sleeping infant after setting her on the floor. She later used a kitchen knife to slit the infant’s throat when the child wouldn’t stop crying.
Giedrojc has been held without bail since her arrest. She is due back in Bridgeview court on March 1.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.