Jeffrey Pulfer, accused of raping and killing his fiancee’s 13-month-old daughter, listened with his head bowed Friday as Will County State’s Atty. James Glasgow described the child’s grisly injuries in court.
Pulfer, 22, of Montgomery, is charged in the death of Corinne Gonzalez, who was pronounced dead Wednesday of a severe blow to the head.
In addition to swelling of the brain, the little girl had vaginal tearing, two broken ribs and evidence of second-degree burns to the face, according to the coroner’s report.
Will County Associate Judge Katherine Kallan ordered Pulfer held without bond, pending action by a grand jury. He is charged with murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault.
When defense lawyer Gary Johnson demanded more detail about the state’s case during the hearing, a visibly angry Glasgow said the victim “had 12 lumps to the head in addition to the blunt trauma and noticeable vaginal bleeding.”
Glasgow added that the child’s mother, Sarah Donnelly, 21, told police that when she left her Plainfield home at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the baby appeared to be in good condition.
“But at 5 p.m. the baby was in shambles,” Glasgow said. Corinne died the next day.
According to Glasgow, Pulfer told police he found the baby at 5 p.m. in her bedroom with a pillow over her head, then later said that “perhaps he had fallen and perhaps the child’s head struck a railing.”
Pulfer slowly shook his head as he was led out of the courtroom.
He graduated from Oswego High School in 1991, where he played soccer and participated in intramural athletics, according to District 308 Supt. Karl Plank. He had no disciplinary problems at the school, Plank said.
A woman who identified herself as the suspect’s mother declined comment about the charges against Pulfer when contacted.
