Trial expected early next year for Boulder Hill woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in daughter’s death

YORKVILLE – The case of a Boulder Hill woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of her 6-year-old daughter is expected to go to trial early next year.

Kendall County Chief Judge Robert Pilmer set Dec. 2 as the next date for a status hearing in the case of Courtny Davidson, 33, who is also charged with endangering the life of a child, during a brief hearing on Nov. 9.

Davidson’s daughter Kerrigan Rutherford was found dead in her home in unincorporated Boulder Hill on July 2, 2020.

Also charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child was stepfather James Davidson, 29.

Kendall County Sheriff’s detectives had described the Davidson home in the 100 block of Boulder Hill Pass as uninhabitable at the time of Rutherford’s death.

An autopsy and toxicology report completed by Coroner Jacquie Purcell ruled Rutherford’s death a homicide caused by an overdose of olanzapine, a medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adolescents and adults.

Courtny Davidson is diagnosed as bipolar and authorities found approximately ten different types of medication in the Boulder Hill home, according to court documents. She remains in custody at the Kendall County jail.

Davidson had initially been assigned legal counsel by the Kendall County Public Defender’s Office, but is now represented by defense attorney Michael Blake, who said Davidson has pled not guilty.

Blake said he expects Davidson’s case to go to a jury trial early next year.

During the hearing, Blake said he is now reviewing Davidson’s medical records that he received through the discovery process.

Both the Davidsons face one count of involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony that carries up to 14 years in prison, and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child, a Class 3 felony that can carry up to 10 years.