Parents allegedly fooled grandparents by playing fake baby cries over phone after 1-year-old girl found in plastic bag

On the night before July 4, 2017, a 1-year-old girl’s life was tragically cut short. It is alleged that the parents of the baby attempted to deceive the victim’s grandparents by playing pre-recorded baby cries over the telephone.

Six years after the discovery of the baby’s remains in an attic, charges have been pressed against the mother, including aiding a fugitive. Melody Townsend, the 40-year-old mother of Ana Marie Townsend, is thought to have given assistance to the still unidentified father of the victim following the death of their daughter. Ana Marie’s remains were found in a plastic bag within the attic of a burned-out, empty Markham home close to I-57, about 20 miles away from Chicago.

The owner of the house was moved to an assisted-living facility prior to the discovery of the remains, as reported by WGN-TV. Townsend is a registered nurse, according to ABC 7 Chicago. WLS, citing Deputy Supervisor Kathryn Morrissey of the State’s Attorney’s Office, indicated that Townsend, who had medical training, took a shower rather than phoning 911. Morrissey further stated that upon returning to the hotel room Melody noticed the victim on the bed, not breathing and having aspirated. The victim did not response when Melody called out to her, and was not cold yet not at body temperature.

Melody Townsend has been under the custody of Illinois since last Tuesday, with charges of felony child endangerment and concealing/aiding a fugitive. The fugitive Townsend is alleged to have helped is yet to be identified by name or charged. It is believed that the accused returned to her hotel after work to find her daughter not breathing. The baby, Ana Marie, was only identified two years after the fire, but it took even longer for charges to be filed. The autopsy showed the baby had drugs and alcohol in her system, and had been physically abused prior to her death.

Shockingly, it is alleged that Townsend’s parents, the baby’s grandparents, asked about their granddaughter numerous times in the months following the fire. During one phone call, Townsend’s father reportedly played fake baby cries from the internet as the baby’s mother tried to explain why the cries did not sound like her daughter’s. Townsend then claimed the baby was not feeling well. When shown a law enforcement sketch of the baby, Townsend denied it was Ana Marie, but admitted her lies to investigators and provided information to help the case.

After the discovery of her body, it is believed that the father left the area to Texas in 2017. Townsend then cut ties with her family and other daughter in September 2017, and left the area to travel to Los Angeles sometime in 2019 or 2020, where she was arrested. Phone records are expected to show that Townsend had kept in contact with the girl’s father over the years.

Markham Police Chief Jack Genius confirmed that further charges were expected, and also stated that prosecutors had not charged Townsend with concealing a homicidal death. He then referred to the victim as Baby Jane Doe, and explained that the person responsible had chosen the location of the vacant home to place the body of the infant. Genius then confirmed that other law enforcement agencies around the country had assisted in the investigation.

Cook County jail records show that Townsend is still in custody, and is scheduled to appear in court on April 26.