Harriett Childers, a 49-year-old Black female nurse from St. Louis, was found dead on August 27, 2022, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Her body was discovered in the street on the 1800 block of Gaty Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Harriett was a dedicated nurse at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and also worked as an Uber driver. On the night of her death, she was preparing for her side job as an Uber driver.
Her body was found dumped in the street, and the circumstances surrounding her death were initially unclear.
The investigation into Harriett Childers' death revealed that she had been shot. The East St. Louis Police Department, along with the Illinois State Police, launched an extensive investigation into the incident. The authorities worked closely with Uber to gather information and support the investigation. Despite the efforts, the initial days of the investigation did not yield any suspects or clear motives for the crime.
In a significant development, a 15-year-old male from East St. Louis was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking in connection with Harriett Childers' death. The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed due to his age, is currently detained at the St. Clair Juvenile Detention Center. The charges against him include first-degree murder, a Class M felony, and aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony. The case has seen cooperation from multiple agencies, including the East St. Louis Police Department, the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office, the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the FBI, and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
The tragic death of Harriett Childers has left her family and community in mourning. Her colleagues at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital remembered her as a valued employee and a dedicated nurse. The investigation continues as authorities seek to bring justice for Harriett and her family.
