A 19-year-old Hanover Park woman pleaded not guilty in Cook County Circuit Court Dec. 21 during an arraignment on charges that she killed a newborn baby she delivered in a restroom at a Streamwood Salvation Army store.

Jessica Cruz, of the 2000 block of Osage Lane, is charged with first degree murder and concealment of a homicide stemming from the Nov. 4 incident, and is being held without bail.

Her attorney, assistant public defender Deana Binstock, declined to comment following the brief hearing in Rolling Meadows branch court.

Prosecutors say Cruz went to the store that day and asked to use the restroom, where she delivered a boy and placed him inside a plastic bag, tying it around his neck.

Cruz placed the baby in a garbage can and covered him with paper towels before leaving, prosecutors said.

Cruz went to a convenience store nearby and used the bathroom there, prosecutors said. Employees recognized Cruz from previous visits and notified police after they found blood in the restroom following her departure, authorities said.

Her next court date is Jan. 25.