Oregon, Illinois – Sarah Safranek, the woman accused of killing her 7-year-old son Nathaniel Burton in 2021, is set to face a jury trial in July. The trial, ordered by an Ogle County Judge, is scheduled to begin on July 8, 2024.
Safranek faces multiple charges, including five counts of First-Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Battery to a Child. Despite the charges, she has maintained her innocence and pleaded not guilty.
The tragic incident unfolded when Oregon Police received a distressing 911 call reporting a child who was not breathing at a residence in the 400 block of South 10th Street. The call was made around 2:35 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Nathaniel was immediately rushed to KSB Hospital in Dixon, where he was declared dead.
According to charging documents, Safranek is accused of strangling her son. The details surrounding the motive or events leading up to the incident were not disclosed.
In the aftermath of Nathaniel’s death, Sarah Safranek’s husband filed an order of protection against her, seeking legal measures in response to the tragedy.
Nathaniel Burton was a first-grade student at Oregon Elementary School, adding to the heartbreak felt by the local community.
The upcoming jury trial will provide an opportunity for justice to be served and for the full story behind this tragic event to be revealed. As the trial begins in July, the community and Nathaniel’s loved ones will be closely watching to see the outcome of this heartbreaking case.