Grand Jury Indicts 32-Year-Old Mother on Murder Charge of 3-Year-Old Son

A Cook County grand jury has formally charged Felicia Hirn with the murder of her 3-year-old son.

Prosecutors told a judge on Thursday that they are requesting a DNA sample from Hirn to help build their case. No ruling has been issued on that request yet. The indictment was filed in Cook County criminal court on Friday.

The case had been unsolved for more than a year before local media inquiries prompted action. Hirn was arrested in Maryland and brought to Chicago for questioning. According to court documents, she claimed her son, Leland Chipoco, died after falling from a slide. However, reports from the Cook County Medical Examiner and a hospital suggested the injuries were consistent with child abuse. Prosecutors allege Hirn choked and shook Leland to death in June 2025.

Mark Chipoco, Leland's father, spoke outside the courtroom about the emotional toll of the proceedings. He described a mix of sadness, anger, and relief that his son's mother is now in custody. "The sadness, the anger, all the emotions that I couldn't even comprehend, I can't even explain. But at the same time, I'm just happy that she's in jail," Chipoco said. He added that he is not giving up on seeking justice for his family.

Keisha Washington, the grandmother of Leland's half-siblings, said the family feels relieved that Hirn will have to answer for her actions. "I guess not necessarily happy, but relieved is more so relieved that, you know, she's going to have to answer to what she did," Washington said. She noted that the legal process is still in its early stages and that the family has a long way to go.

Hirn is currently held in the Cook County Jail on three felony charges, including murder and child abuse. Her attorney did not appear in court Thursday but informed the judge that he objects to the DNA request. The defense wants the case to proceed directly to trial. Hirn is 32 years old and has not yet entered a plea.