Illinois Mother Deliberately Smothered 7-Year-Old Son To Death

A woman in Illinois recently admitted to suffocating her child with a pillow. The mother was recently sentenced after the child’s death at seven years of age. Prosecutors, as well as the child’s paternal grandmother, have shared more information about the story, including claims the boy made concerning his mother.

The Boy’s Paternal Grandmother Shared Stories Her Grandson Told Her Prior To His Death

An Illinois mother, Sarah Safranek, admitted to taking the life of her seven-year-old son back in 2021. On February 17 of that year, according to prosecutors, she reportedly suffocated her son with pillows.

That day, authorities responded to the family’s home in Oregon, Illinois. This was in response to reports that a child in the home wasn’t breathing.

As shared by Fox Baltimore, the child, identified as Nathaniel Burton, was later pronounced dead at the hospital in Dixon. According to WIFR, the child’s time of death was around 3:25 AM local time.

As shared by People, court documents shared that prosecutors claimed that the boy previously alleged that his mother repeatedly held pillows over his face. He reportedly claimed she “wouldn’t give up” in the months leading to his death.

The boy also reportedly told his paternal grandmother that his mother would also attempt to drown him, adding that she “won’t let me breathe.” According to the documents, this abuse is believed to have started in 2018.

Authorities Noted That Safranek Had An Incriminating Search History, Dating Back To At Least 2020

The paternal grandmother also claimed that she contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services multiple times over her grandson’s claims. Despite leaving messages, she reportedly never got to speak to anyone.

Authorities also claimed that Safranek had “How long does an investigation take after a child passes away” and “I’ve had thoughts about killing my kid,'” on her internet search history. These searches reportedly started as early as 2020.

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Safranek originally made a guilty plea in March 2024. However, she then withdrew her plea. She was recently sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in connection to her son’s death. Her sentence will also be followed by three years of mandatory supervised release, as shared by prosecutors.

During a hearing this past Wednesday, Judge Anthony Peska said that the 35-year sentence will be fully served prior to the three years of supervised release. Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock also noted that the plea followed an extensive criminal investigation. Rock also noted that the agreement was reached after consulting with the victim’s family.

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