Irvine Woman Vows to Fight Extradition in Murder Case

SANTA ANA —  An Irvine woman who has been charged with murder in the death of her adopted baby daughter in Illinois 18 years ago will fight extradition from California, her lawyer said Monday.

In a brief court hearing, lawyer Keith Ross of Santa Ana said Victoria Neal does not want to give up her right to an extradition hearing.

Neal, described by police as a 44-year-old interior designer, was arrested at her Irvine home on Thursday on the strength of Illinois indictments charging her with murder in the death of 1-year-old Danielle Christine Neal, who died in a hospital in Peoria, Ill.

Prosecutors in Tazewell County, Ill., said Neal told an Orange County social worker last year that she was responsible for the baby’s death on Sept 2, 1976.

But on Monday, Ross denied the allegations, saying Neal was “going through a very difficult time.”

Outside the courtroom, Ross said: “Eighteen years ago, a child died in a tragic accident. There was a full investigation and death was found to be accidental. It is an election year in Illinois and one has to wonder why this has been brought up” again.

Ross declined to elaborate.

Neal was being held in County Jail. Bail was set at $100,000.

Ross asked Superior Court Judge Michael Brenner to permit Neal’s 14-year-old daughter, Tressa, to visit her mother in jail. The judge said he would consider the request and rule later.

Brenner also transferred the matter to Municipal Court for a hearing related to her extradition today.