GALESBURG, Ill — A Galesburg woman was sentenced to 53 years in prison on Sept. 29 after pleading guilty to the death of her 7-year-old daughter, according to Knox County State's Attorney Jeremy Karlin.
Hazel Ivy killed her daughter, Willow Banks, in January 2021 at the Cedar Creek Place apartment complex in Galesburg on January 24, 2021.
At the sentencing on Thursday, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy testified to her findings. She testified that Banks suffered "multiple stab wounds, blunt force trauma to the back of her head, in addition to injuries consistent with strangulation."
Ivy pled "guilty but mentally ill to the charge of first-degree murder" in Knox County court in June 2022.
Circuit Court Judge Andrew Doyle sentenced Ivy to serve 53 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to Karlin, Ivy will serve 100% of the sentence the court imposed.
More From News 8
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel