An Edgar County woman accused of attempting to poison her two-year-old son and husband has entered a negotiated plea deal with the Edgar County state’s attorney.
In exchange for a guilty plea to a single Class 3 felony aggravated battery charge, the state chose to drop the second Class 3 felony aggravated battery charge and a Class X felony intent to kill or murder filed against Karlla Tresner.
Tresner, 36, appeared at the Edgar County Courthouse, in custody, on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to enter her guilty plea. Tresner has been in the custody of The Edgar County Sheriff’s Department since Nov. 1.
Testimony previously heard in the matter revealed police officers were dispatched to Tresner's residence on Nov. 1 following reports of a “domestic dispute.” Officers on the scene were told Tresner had locked her husband and their child in the bathroom for roughly eight hours, depriving them both of food and water.
Evidence at the scene corroborated the statements officers received from Tresner’s spouse, and all three parties were taken for immediate medical attention.
While at the hospital, police officer Joshua Bennett said Tresner made two startling admissions.
“She had given (her son) methamphetamine on a powdered donut and some purple pills that we were unable to identify,” Bennett previously testified. “(And) she had given (her husband) some type of a syringe injection in the back of his neck with unknown substances.”
Tresner later explained to medical staff and DCFS personnel that she intended to kill her son. Results from lab testing confirmed that methamphetamine and “some other kind of stimulant” were present in the child’s system.
Once Tresner was medically cleared, she was transported to the Edgar County Jail.
As a result of the negotiation entered last month, Tresner was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for 47 days previously served with no good conduct credit to apply, 30 months of probation and a $300 fine. The court also ordered Tresner to obtain mental health and substance abuse counseling.