'She has blood on her hands': Aunt of six-month-old killed by two teens driving a stolen car slams controversial State's Attorney Kim Foxx after they are only charged them with misdemeanors
Six-month-old Cristian Uvidia died in a car crash on April 16 outside of Chicago. The two teens who reportedly crashed a stolen car into a pickup truck carrying the baby and other family members were charged with only misdemeanors
By Andrea Cavallier
Daily Mail
April 25, 2023
Annelisse Rivera slammed Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx for her decision to charge two teens with misdemeanors after they allegedly crashed a stolen car, killing her nephew
The distraught aunt of a 6-month-old baby who was killed when two teens crashed an allegedly stolen car into a pickup truck ripped Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx for her decision to only charge the boys with misdemeanors.
Annelisse Rivera spoke to 'Fox & Friends' on Tuesday, still reeling from the death of her nephew Cristian Uvidia, who died from his injuries from the April 16 crash.
'I want to know how you [Foxx] sleep at night, seeing my nephew's picture on the screen, how you can see his face and think that his life meant absolutely nothing,' Rivera said, directing her comments to the district attorney.
'The district attorney has just as much blood on her hands as the people who did this,' she continued.
The suspects, aged 14 and 17, each face a single count of criminal trespassing, but police said charges could be upgraded pending further investigation into the wreck.
Foxx (pictured) is receiving harsh backlash from the family after the DA's office charged the suspects, aged 14 and 17, each with a single count of criminal trespassing - misdemeanors - but police said charges could be upgraded pending further investigation into the crash
Police say that around 5 p.m. on April 16, the two boys sped down West Washington Road in a stolen Hyundai sedan when they tore through an intersection and collided with a pickup truck.
Baby Cristian, his 34-year-old mother and two older sisters, ages 7 and 17, were in the pickup truck that was hit. Cristian died from his injuries a day later.
His family remains hospitalized at Stroger Hospital but are expected to make a full recovery.
Just a week after the tragedy, Rivera spoke out on 'Fox & Friends,' furious that the teens were merely charged with misdemeanors.
'It's really, really disappointing, and it just doesn't make any sense… There's not even justice for the person whose car they stole. Criminal trespassing? What, did they trespass into the car? It makes absolutely no sense.'
She said Foxx has just much 'blood on her hands' as the suspects who crashed the stolen car into her family.
'It's absolutely ridiculous. It's really truthfully just the biggest slap on the wrist, but a slap in the face to us completely,' Rivera continued. 'I don't know if the people who put these charges on them have kids, but I think anybody, even without children, can understand that this is wrong.'
Six-month-old Cristian Uvidia was killed when a stolen car collided with his family's truck
The stolen Hyundai moments before it hit the family's pickup truck in Chicago. Police say on April 16, two boys sped down West Washington Road in a stolen Hyundai sedan when they tore through an intersection and collided with a pickup truck.
Rivera said the tragedy is sadly another daily occurrence in Chicago.
'You're putting salt on our wounds. You're not bringing us justice, and even if you do something, we will never get our baby back. Ever. There is no true justice.'
'This is absolutely something that I don't wish upon my worst enemy, truthfully… it's not a matter of if this is going to happen to another child, it's when,' she continued.
'This is a daily occurrence in Chicago.'
'We are just as confused as the city of Chicago as to why this is occurring,' she added. It's really disheartening, and it's really upsetting.
Rivera pointed out that their family has yet to be contacted by Foxx or the police about the investigation.
'It's been a week. We have not been contacted by either the police or the DA from what I have understanding of,' Rivera said.
Rivera described her nephew as being happy and full of life, adding that 'he always had this big smile on his face, he loved to sing and dance.'
After the collision, neighbors rushed outside to pull Cristian out of the car and attempt CPR.
'Unfortunately, he was brain dead, and then the next day he passed,' Rivera said.
'They stole a car, and they stole our entire lives in that one instant. I don't know what the price of the car was, but I'm sure it wasn't equivalent to the life of a child.'
The tragedy was just the latest example of criminal chaos which has consumed Chicago in recent years under the watch of Foxx, whose office has dismissed thousands of violent felony cases since she was sworn in in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.
The tragedy was just the latest example of criminal chaos that has consumed Chicago in recent years under the watch of Foxx, whose office has dismissed thousands of violent felony cases since she was sworn in in 2016 and re-elected in 2020
Overall crimes are up 47 percent, year on year, with robbery, sexual assault and theft surging.
Theft has risen by a remarkable 25 percent.
Murders and shootings are both down, however.
The complicated law and order situation was brought into sharp focus by wild events last weekend when a crowd of more than a hundred rowdy teenagers turned violent in Downtown Chicago.
Dozens torched and smashed cars while blaring music in a 'teen trend' that left two with gunshot wounds.
Shocking footage showed some teenagers jumping on top of a bus while others started a massive brawl after descending on Millennium Park and attempting to breach barricades.
Gunshots rang out with some rounds striking two teenage boys aged 16 and 17.
The two youths were transported to a nearby hospital in fair condition. A total of 15 people, nine adults and six children were arrested.
Shocking footage showed some teenagers jumping on top of a bus while others started a massive brawl after descending on Millennium Park and attempting to breach barricades
The rowdy group torched cars and got into fights before gunfire ended the night
Police said most of the charges were for reckless conduct, but a 16-year-old boy was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon, and a firearm was recovered. An adult and a juvenile were also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
Cars were also left vandalized near East Washington Street, including a Tesla.
Chicago politicians, many of whom are criticized for being notoriously soft on crime, wrote off the night of criminal misdeeds, saying it was a few bad eggs in a sea of revelers, or even a political demonstration.
Outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot weighed in on the event, telling a local reporter that she thinks calling the weekend scene 'mayhem' is incorrect.
'The mass majority of the young people who came downtown, came downtown because there was great weather and it was an opportunity to enjoy the city. That's absolutely, entirely appropriate,' said Lightfoot, defending the teens.
She added: 'There are a few that came with different intentions. They have and they will be dealt with. But I'm not going to use your language, which I think is wrong, to say there's 'mayhem.''
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