Cortland woman arrested in connection with the death of her 8-year-old child

Cortland, N.Y. — A 32-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the death of her 8-year-old child.

Billiejo L. Adams, of Cortland, was arrested Thursday, seven months after the child’s death, according to a news release from the Cortland city police.

She was charged with criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The child died on Oct. 20, 2021, police said.

Police investigated the death alongside the Cortland County Department of Social Services, the Cortland County District Attorney’s Office and the county coroner’s office.

The investigation revealed that Adams failed to give the child the necessary prescription medicine and failed to administer proper care for the child, police said.

Investigators also discovered that the substandard living conditions in the home and the neglect of the child’s medical needs resulted in the 8-year-old’s death, they said.

On May 20, 2022, a grand jury indicted Adams, police said. She was arrested less than a week later.

Adams’ bail was set at $3,000 cash or $6,000 bond, police said. She is set to appear in court again on July 21.

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.