The reception to Noella’s transition, however, was not all positive. At home, her biological father, Timothy McCord, struggled to accept her new gender identity. “He was very hesitant,” says Beth. “He would misgender her all the time and try to force her to wear her brother’s clothes whenever he would visit her.”
Due to McCord’s history of substance abuse issues, Beth was awarded full custody of both their children, daughter Noella, and son Levi. In accordance with standard parental visitation rights, McCord was still granted time to see the children throughout the week. Visitation times were typically reserved for when Beth was at work; McCord would have dinner with the children and put them to bed at Beth’s house.
In July 2016, during their typical nighttime routine, McCord attempted to force Noella into “boy pajamas.” Throughout this encounter, he forcefully twisted Noella’s arm, resulting in a spiral fracture break. Upon realizing he had injured the minor, he then proceeded to treat her with over-the-counter medicine. “He [McCord] was a Cook Country medical examiner,” says Beth of the incident. “He is someone who has extensive knowledge and background on what he was doing.”
Although the medication succeeded to knock the minor out that night, the following morning Beth was woken up by screams of pain coming from Noella’s bedroom. The incident was immediately reported to child protective services and McCord was arrested and charged with a
Class X felony for aggravated child abuse.
The situation was initially treated with the severity it deserved. Aggravated battery of a child under the age of 13 in Illinois
carries anywhere between six and 30 years in prison if convicted. The Class X is one of the most serious felony offenses on the books in Illinois. Even a first-time offender who has no criminal background is subject to a mandatory prison sentence if convicted.
Due to the blatantly transphobic nature of the situation, the family was assigned an LGBTQ advocate at the criminal courthouse. It was determined, however, that there wasn’t enough official evidence to charge McCord with a hate crime. The decision highlighted the inability of the Cook Country criminal justice system—like many around the county—to adequately protect LGBTQ minors.
