Mother found guilty of child endangerment, concealing death of infant found inside vacant Markham home in 2017

The mother of an infant found dead inside a vacant home in Markham in 2017 was found guilty of child endangerment and concealing a homicide on Monday, city officials said.

Melody Townsend was convicted after the body of her daughter, Ana Marie Townsend, was found by first responders wrapped in plastic inside the attic of a burned, abandoned home in the 15400 block of Hamlin Avenue in Markham in 2017. The baby's death was ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Melody and the child's father, Rico Garrett, vanished weeks after the fire. She was taken into custody in 2023 after tips led to her location in California. Garrett remains on the run, with Melody declining to provide information on his whereabouts. 

No one has yet been charged with the infant's murder.

She was also charged with concealing and aiding a fugitive, but that charge was later dropped. 

She is due back in court on March 9.