Chicago mother charged with murder of 3-year-old son

Felicia Hirn has been arrested and charged with the murder of her 3-year-old son, Leland Chipoco, in Chicago. The arrest comes more than a year after the child died in June 2025.

Medical records from Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Cook County medical examiner indicate that while Hirn initially claimed the child fell off a slide, he had sustained severe injuries. These included bruising, retinal and subdural hemorrhages, and spinal damage. Doctors had flagged the case as potential child abuse and a homicide at the time of the incident.

The child's father, Mark Chipoco, expressed frustration with the delay in justice, stating that the family felt ignored by authorities for over a year despite their repeated attempts to seek answers.