Jackson County Circuit Judge David W. Watt Jr. has ordered Camellia Foulks to her next evaluation appointment with the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or face jail time.

By Gus Bode

Foulks, 25, has missed both of her evaluation appointments with the department since she was found unfit Feb. 10 to stand trial in the fire deaths of eight children.

She stands accused in the Aug. 14 fire deaths of eight children who police say she left alone the night of the fire.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Michael Wepsiec filed a motion requesting Friday’s hearing after Foulks missed her first appointment Feb. 24 with state psychologist Mike Jasmon. She also was scheduled for a March 17 appointment.

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That effort proved fruitless, as the defendant failed to keep the appointment, Wepsiec wrote in the motion.

At Friday’s hearing Wepsiec said he could arrange another appointment with Jasmon within 21 days.

Watt ordered her to attend the new appointment or be thrown in jail.

There will be no excuses, no reasons, he said. If not, I will revoke your bail and put you in jail until we have you evaluated.

Foulks is charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of reckless conduct and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

Police said Foulks was supposed to be baby-sitting nine children the night of the blaze, but instead left them to go to a liquor store. She was at a bar when her residence caught fire, police said.

Three of Foulks’ children died in the fire. An 8-year-old girl, whose identity has not been released, survived.

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Authorities believe the fire was started by children playing with matches or a lighter.

When Foulks was found unfit to stand trial in February, Watt found there was a strong likelihood she would regain fitness within a year.

He ordered the mental health department to report on Foulk’s condition 30 days after the evaluation was ordered, and at 90-day intervals thereafter. Due to Foulks’ failure to appear, the department has so far been unable to comply with that order, according to Wepsiec’s motion.

Foulks cannot be tried in the case until the court finds she has regained the ability to understand the charges against her and aid in her defense.

Watt also ordered Foulks to provide her new address to her attorney Michael Rowland, who said he did not know where she was when Wepsiec filed the motion requesting Friday’s hearing.

Daily Egyptian Reporter Aaron Butler contributed to this report.

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