From the Lake County State’s Attorney:
Woman Arrested and Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter for 25-Year-old Round Lake Beach Cold Case
(Round Lake Beach, IL) Today, Jennifer Lebron, 48, was arrested and charged with Involuntary Manslaughter for the death of her newborn child that occurred almost 25 years ago.
On August 26, 2001, Round Lake Beach police officers responded to a report of a deceased infant found in a bag in a dumpster behind a grocery store located on Rollins Road. At the time, investigators from the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force conducted an investigation.
Initially, a different woman was charged with first-degree murder in September 2001. Investigators later determined that the woman was never pregnant and was not involved in the death of the infant child. The case was dismissed in October 2001, and the investigation went cold.
In early 2024, Round Lake Beach investigators reopened the case and submitted DNA of the child for genetic genealogy testing. The testing identified a genetic match to an individual related to the infant’s father, which eventually led investigators to identify both the infant’s father and mother, Jennifer Lebron. The father is not suspected of any criminal activity.
Investigators spoke with Lebron, continued to review the evidence, and worked closely with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation. Two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter (Class 3 felony) were approved.
The infant boy was named “Jacob Hope” by AMT Children of Hope. The Lake County Public Guardian assisted with this action to honor the child.
Round Lake Beach Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez stated,
“I am extraordinarily proud of the determination of our detectives, as well as the investigators whose efforts began nearly 25 years ago. I was personally at the scene of this incident in 2001, and the memory of that day has remained with me throughout my career. Our children and senior citizens are among the most precious and vulnerable members of our community, and cases involving harm to them resonate especially deeply. Jacob Hope deserved answers, dignity, and justice. Today’s arrest represents an important step toward accountability for this innocent child, and I am grateful to everyone whose persistence and collaboration made it possible.”
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said,
“This cold case could not have been solved without the unbelievable work of the Round Lake Beach Police Department. Some of the officers and leaders that investigated this matter have retired. But their efforts must be acknowledged. With the painstaking investigation having been completed, we will now seek to secure justice for this child who lost his life because of the offender’s criminal actions.”
Lebron was taken into custody this morning on an arrest warrant, and she is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
