It was a brief but very emotional hearing for a Peoria County coroner's jury Thursday afternoon.
Jurors listened to startling details of the death of a five–month old Peoria baby. They ruled Benjamin Sargent's death a homicide.

Two jurors cried quietly as Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll described conditions that led to Sargent's death in February of this year.
Peoria police found Sargent, wearing a snowsuit, strapped in a car seat, saturated with urine and feces when they arrived at the Proctor Street home February 12th.

Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said, " there was no evidence of congenital or metabolic defects, tumor or trauma. Cause of death is from infection described as sepsis due to dehydration due to neglect".

Ingersoll told juror tests showed Benjamin had developed e–coli and there were early signs of decomposition on his body.
The baby's parents 21–year–old Tracy Hermann and 23–year–old James Sargent pleaded not guilty to charges of first– degree murder.
They are due in court May second.