Fassler murder trial 'moving forward'

DIXON – The state's case against the woman charged in the 2011 death of her 7-year-old stepson is "moving forward," Lee County State's Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller said, and a hearing in the matter is set for later this month.

Tiffany Fassler, 40, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated battery of a child in the death of Colton Fassler.

"The number of medical records in this case is astronomical and involve complex medical issues," which is what Fassler's defense team is sorting through, Sacco-Miller said in an email Monday.

When Fassler's team is done, the prosecution will evaluate the need for additional experts that it may need to testify, she said.

Because of the nature of the injury, complications stemming from the injury, and the length of time from Colton's injury until his death – about 11 months – "this case is extremely complex," Sacco-Miller said.

Prosecutors say Colton was brain-damaged on Dec. 30, 2010, when Fassler kicked him in the chest and caused his head to hit a bathroom vanity.

Seven months later, she was indicted on two counts of aggravated battery.

About 4 months after that, on Nov. 10, 2011, Colton died at Rockford Memorial Hospital.

In August 2012, a Winnebago County coroner's jury ruled his death a homicide, prosecutors added the murder charge that Sept. 13, then took the matter to a grand jury, which issued a five-count indictment a week later.

In February 2013, an amended bill of indictment was filed, adding the second murder charge.

Defendants often are charged with multiple counts of the same crime, the legal elements of which vary enough to give the judge or jury options when considering a verdict.

Dixon attorney Paul Whitcombe was appointed to represent Fassler; she has a pretrial conference Jan. 20.

Fassler remains free on $200,000 bond. If convicted, she faces 20 to 60 years in prison on the murder charge. Aggravated battery of a child carries 6 to 30 years.