ROCK ISLAND, Ill — The woman accused of hiding her son's body in a trash can will be evaluated by a psychologist after a court hearing in Rock Island County on Friday, Oct. 27.
Sushi Staples, 38, is accused of concealing the death of her 10-year-old son in a trash can outside her Rock Island home.
An autopsy revealed that the boy died from a gunshot wound, likely in December 2022. The body was discovered on July 26, 2023.
During the pre-trial hearing on Friday, Judge Frank Fuhr was presented with a motion that questioned the mental fitness of the defendant, Ms. Staples.
After hearing arguments from the lawyers, Judge Fuhr found 'bona fide doubt' as to the defendant's fitness. It was then ordered that Staples will be "evaluated by a qualified psychologist," according to court records.
Staples' defense lawyer William Wolf has also filed a motion for release. A hearing for that motion was set for Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Staples remains in the Rock Island County Jail on a $500,000 bond (10%). She is charged with concealment of a death, obstruction of justice, and failure to report the death of a child.
Case background:
On Wednesday, July 26, around 9:30 a.m., Rock Island Police began an investigation into a suspicious death in the 1700 block of 20 1/2 Avenue.
Rock Island County coroner Brian Gustafson confirmed the victim was identified as Zion Staples, a 10-year-old boy, from Rock Island.
News 8 spoke with a neighbor back in July, who couldn't believe this happened across the street from her.
"I've lost sleep over it and I've prayed a lot," the neighbor who wished to go by Deb only said. "I have to believe that she has done some extra measures to cover up that smell, otherwise nobody could have stood that, nobody."
An autopsy was performed on Friday, July 28, in Rockford. According to Gustafson, the preliminary results showed the death was "considered suspicious and not natural."
On July 26, Sushi M. Staples, then 37, was taken into custody and charged with concealment of a death, obstruction of justice, and failure to report the death of a child.