Irvine Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Baby Daughter in 1976

An Irvine woman charged with killing her 1-year-old daughter 17 years ago in a rural Illinois town pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Central Orange County Municipal Court while extradition proceedings moved forward.

Victoria Neal, 44, who was arrested at her Irvine home Thursday, denied killing her adopted daughter, Danielle Christine Neal. The baby girl died in a hospital in Peoria, Ill., in September, 1976.

Prosecutors in Tazewell County, Ill., who filed the murder charges, allege that Neal violently shook her child to death. At the time of the baby’s death, a coroner discovered no foul play. Neal had told doctors that the baby had been injured in a fall.

Illinois authorities said they learned of wrongdoing last year after Neal told an Orange County social worker that she was responsible for the baby’s death.

The baby’s body was later exhumed, revealing evidence supporting homicide, according to Tazewell County prosecutors.

Neal’s attorney, Keith Ross of Santa Ana, has denied the allegations, saying Neal was “going through a very difficult time.”

“Eighteen years ago, a child died in a tragic accident. There was a full investigation and death was found to be accidental,” Ross has said.

Next week, authorities from Illinois will come to Orange County for an identity hearing, and will continue with extradition procedure.