A 22-year-old Chicago man, Uriel Vega, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly beating and stomping a 21-month-old baby to death. A police statement states that Vega has been charged with one count of first-degree murder for the death of 21 month old Raiylana Vasquez.
Vega, who is Raiylana’s mother’s boyfriend, but not her father was looking after the child at the time of her death, according to police statement.
Police officers were called to the home Vega shared with the girl’s mother just before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. When they arrived, they found Raiylana unresponsive with “obvious” signs of trauma, the statement added.
“The investigation revealed that the victim died from blunt force trauma caused by Vega,” reads the statement. A prosecution says in addition to beating the child, Vega allegedly stomped on the baby’s stomach. Raiylana was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital where she was pronounced dead within one hour of arrival.
An autopsy performed Wednesday found the child had died of multiple injuries due to child abuse and her death was ruled a homicide, according to police.
Alissandra Calderon, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, said that they are investigating Vega for previous allegations of abuse and neglect, and that the child’s mother was indicted on neglect charges 10 months ago.
Calderon did not provide the mother’s name or discuss the allegations that led to the indictment.
Vega is being held without bond and does not have legal representation according to police.
Police have yet to comment on a possible motive as to why Vega killed the child.
Source: PEOPLE Magazine