Every parent gets frustrated and overwhelmed by the demands of caring for their kids. Some may joke about killing their child, but that joke is usually harmless. Illinois mom Sarah Safranek, however, was allegedly serious about killing her son. The mom was recently sentenced to time in prison for suffocating her little boy back in 2021. And now, it has been revealed that she attempted ending the boy’s life multiple times before she actually killed him.
Safranek pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison after killing her 7-year-old son Nathaniel Burton in February 2021, WREX reported. Her sentence will be served in full, and then she will have three years of mandatory supervised release.
Ogle County prosecutors said Safranek suffocated the boy in their home in Oregon, Illinois on February 17, 2021. Nathaniel died later that day at the hospital.
According to court documents obtained by People, prosecutors said Nathaniel claimed his mom had held pillows over his face and “wouldn’t give up” repeatedly in the months before he died. He also allegedly told his paternal grandmother that Safranek “won’t let me breathe” and that she tried to drown him. The alleged abuse dated all the way back to 2018.
His paternal grandmother told authorities she contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services “several times.” She was never able to speak to anyone directly, but she left messages.
In addition to the testimony, authorities found multiple internet searches conducted by Safranek that dated back to 2020, per People. “How long does an investigation take after a child passes away,” she searched. She also looked up “I’ve had thoughts about killing my kid.”
Safranek pleaded guilty to killing her son in March 2024, WIFR reported at the time. However, she later withdrew her plea before her sentencing hearing in May 2024.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
