Illinois – An Illinois man was taken into custody following allegations of severe physical abuse resulting in critical injuries to his girIfriend’s child, 2. On the evening of March 15, at approximately 6:50 p.m., deputies responded to the family’s residence after the emergency call reported an unconscious 2-year-old girl. Upon arrival, emergency medical services were already attending to the child, who exhibited a brain bleed and a fractured skull. Notably, the child also had bruising around her left eye and abdomen, which medical personnel deemed suspicious.
At the scene, deputies encountered the child’s mother and her boyfriend, 21-year-old J. PadiIIa. During initial questioning, PadiIIa provided statements regarding the child’s injuries that were inconsistent with the physical evidence observed by the officers. Given the severity of the injuries and the discrepancies in PadiIIa’s account, deputies arrested him on suspicion of aggravated battery to a child and aggravated domestic battery.
During an interview with investigators, the 21-year-old man allegedly made several statements. At first, his explanations for the child’s injuries were inconsistent with what medical professionals observed. In a follow-up interview, authorities in Illinois asked him to demonstrate how he struck the child. Investigators concluded that he had hit the child in the face with his elbow.
According to authorities, PadiIIa admitted he attacked the girl because he was angry that she had thrown his ceIIphone at him. The child’s mother was not in the room at the time, and PadiIIa did not inform her of what had happened. Authorities said the little girl was found unconscious while in the man’s care, as her mother was eating in another part of the house.
According to the prosecutor, he provided at least three different accounts of the incident. Initially, he claimed the child fell and injured her eye. In a second version, he stated that he accidentally dropped his phone on her eye. During further questioning by sheriff’s investigators, he ultimately admitted to deliberately striking the child in the head with his elbow. The 2-year-old was transported to a local hospital, where medical evaluations confirmed a brain bleed and a fractured skull. The child remained in critical condition, with medical staff closely monitoring her injuries.
Following his arrest, PadiIIa appeared before Judge Derek. Despite the severity of the charges, Judge granted him pretrial release, citing his lack of prior criminal history and stable employment. PadiIIa had been in a relationship with the child’s mother for approximately two years and had no previous interactions with law enforcement. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the well-being and recovery of the young victim. The case underscores the imperative for communities to remain attentive and proactive in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from harm.