Chicago Woman Charged With Using Power Saw to Cut Baby’s Throat

A Chicago grandmother has been charged with the murder of her 7-month-old granddaughter. Police say she used a power saw to cut the child’s throat.

Chicago police say that little Rose Herrera was struck in the head several times before the power saw was used to nearly decapitate her on Tuesday. The child’s 52-year-old Hispanic grandmother, Manuela Rodriguez, was charged with first-degree murder in the child’s death.

Police reported that the child was likely already dead from being beaten before the power saw was used. The child was also suffocated with a sock that was stuffed into her mouth.

Rodriguez attempted to kill herself with the saw, as well. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and later booked by police.

The elder woman lived in a home in the 2800-block of South Avers in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood where she resided with her two adult daughters, both of whom had their own small children.

Residents of the Hispanic neighborhood were shocked by the whole affair. Some said that Rodriguez was a kind woman.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter: @warnerthuston. Email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.