A troubling incident involving a 6-year-old child and a woman from Illinois has left many shaken. Martha Dunham, 36, was accused of assaulting the young child last December and was recently released from the Ogle County Jail, under strict conditions.
The alleged assault happened on December 13, leading to Dunham’s arrest on charges of aggravated battery of a child under 13 and domestic battery. According to court records obtained by local media, she was accused of pulling the child’s hair and headbutting them—actions described as “physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature.”
Dunham made her first court appearance on December 23, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. The relationship between Dunham and the child remains unclear, as does her connection to the child’s mother, who requested a protective order after the incident.
On January 7, during a hearing about the protective order, the child’s mother asked for it to be extended for two years. When the presiding judge, Russell Crull, asked Dunham if she agreed to the order, she suggested it be in place only until her criminal case was resolved. Crull extended the order until January 28 but later stepped away from the case, citing a conflict of interest—he had previously served as the mother’s private defense attorney.
The case then moved to Judge Anthony Peska. On January 9, prosecutors argued that Dunham should remain in custody, pointing to her history of domestic violence dating back to 2006. However, Peska decided to release her with a condition: she must avoid all contact with children under the age of 18. She was also issued a protective order. Dunham’s next court appearance for the protection order is set for January 28, while her criminal charges will be addressed on March 18.
This story has sparked concern and outrage among community members as they await the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.
