Conviction shadows accused baby killer

A Farmington, Mo., woman accused in baby's death had a previous child abuse conviction.

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A woman accused in the death of a baby had a previous conviction for child abuse, court records show.

Rebecca Gail Siliven, 26, of Farmington, was scheduled to face arraignment Tuesday on a charge of felony abuse of a child resulting in death. She allegedly kicked 8-month-old EmmaLee Westhoff in the head last week while watching the child at her home.

The child died a day later.

Prosecutors say Siliven used a work boot to kick the child in an effort to get her to stop crying. EmmaLee's mother had been staying with Siliven while going through a divorce.

Farmington police chief Rick Baker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Siliven confessed that she struck the child with the heel of the boot about 8 p.m. June 21.

Court records show Siliven had a child abuse conviction in 2003 involving a 2-year-old in Pulaski County. The Springfield News-Leader reported the case happened at Fort Leonard Wood. The newspaper said Siliven kicked and stomped on the girl's legs and struck her in the face.

Siliven received a five-year probation that allowed her to have only limited contact with children and banned her from working in the child-care industry, court records show. A judge also ordered mental-health counseling and parenting classes.

EmmaLee's father, Chris Westhoff of Bonne Terre, told the Post-Dispatch he feared EmmaLee's life was in jeopardy if she remained with her mother and Siliven. He said he filed several complaints with the Children's Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services and tried unsuccessfully to have EmmaLee removed from his estranged wife, Tamra Westhoff.

Deborah Scott, spokeswoman for the department of social services, said the division responds to every call that rises to the statutory definition of abuse and neglect. She said the division is reviewing the case to determine what its involvement had been.

"A comprehensive investigation is underway," she said.

Chris Westhoff said he wants Gov. Matt Blunt to investigate the state's handling of the complaints.

St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler-Horn said she charged Siliven with felony child abuse instead of murder because the charge will be easier to prove in court.

Siliven was jailed on $500,000 bond.