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Hazel Ivy: Horrifying details emerge after Illinois mom's gruesome murder of 7-year-old daughter

Hazel Ivy has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for fatally stabbing Willow Nevaeh Banks, 7
PUBLISHED OCT 2, 2022
Hazel Ivy (R) has been convicted of killing her daughter, Willow Nevaeh Banks (L) (WQAD,  Galesburg Police Department)
Hazel Ivy (R) has been convicted of killing her daughter, Willow Nevaeh Banks (L) (WQAD, Galesburg Police Department)

GALESBURG, ILLINOIS: In a piece of shocking news, a mother has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for stabbing and killing her 7-year-old daughter as gruesome details from the murder that took place in January 2021 are revealed. 

Hazel Ivy, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder after her daughter, Willow Nevaeh Banks was found dead in her apartment in Cedar Creek Place. As per an article by the US Sun, the young girl had suffered multiple injuries, including multiple stab wounds (almost 24) and blunt force trauma to the back of her head. She had also been strangulated, according to the autopsy report. 

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Hazel Ivy has been sentenced to 53 years in prison (Galesburg Police Department)
Hazel Ivy has been sentenced to 53 years in prison (Galesburg Police Department)

The murder was discovered after Ivy, 31, sent a photograph of her daughter's corpse to an acquaintance. They alerted the cops, following which first responders arrived at the accused's apartment at 3.30 am on January 24, 2021. Ivy opened the door and simply told the authorities that Willow was "upstairs" according to the Missing Persons Awareness Network NFP. Willow's body was found in a bedroom. Later accounts reveal that the 31-year-old told police she had "snapped", which resulted in the death of the seven-year-old. 

Willow Nevaeh Banks was seven at the time of her death (WQAD)
Willow Nevaeh Banks was seven at the time of her death (WQAD)

Detectives discovered blood on Willow's bed and hallway floor, all the way from her bedroom to her mother's. A serrated-edged knife was also found in the girl's bedroom. Autopsy reports also showed a series of injuries sustained by the young girl prior to her death. Speaking to Tri States Public Radio, Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin expressed his horror at the tragedy, which he confessed was the "most gruesome crime" he had seen in his long career spanning 30 years. 

Willow's body was found in her mother's apartment in Cedar Creek Place (WQAD)
Willow's body was found in her mother's apartment in Cedar Creek Place (WQAD)

According to sources, Willow had not been registered in school. Her sibling has been relocated by the Office of Children and Family Services. An obituary for the young girl reads, "Willow was a lively, out-going child, who's smile was contagious. She loved to sing and dance, a happy girl ready for anything! Willow touched the hearts of many with her joy of life. We cherish our many memories as the brief gifts they were." The obituary also reveals that Willow is survived by her parents, Hazel Ivy and Willie Banks, sister, Destiney Lee Jones, and the Don Yost family. 

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