Indianapolis, IN – According to the police officials, the 32-year-old man from Illinois, later identified as Ricki, was arrested and later charged with multiple charges, including murder, after he reportedly beat his partner’s child to death. Authorities also said the man reportedly explaining that any bruises on the child’s body were probably the result of slipping in the bathroom. In a follow-up interview, the man reportedly agreed that the child’s injuries could only be the result of physical abuse. The 32-year-old man confessed that he was high on drugs when the child died.
The investigation process began last week after the man called 911 and told the dispatcher about an unresponsive child. First responders realized that the 2-year-old child, JeIoni, was not breathing and rushed him to the hospital. The child was later pronounced dead. When officers arrived on scene, they asked the man about his relationship with the boy and he reportedly replied that he is the child’s father. Authorities later discovered that he was not the father and was looking after the child was the boy’s mom was at the hospital.
The 32-year-old man also said that the boy was in the bathtub when he realized that he is not responsive. An autopsy later discovered that the child’s cause of death was a blunt force trauma and there were no signs of drowning. Authorities also found a basebaII bat near the child’s bed. During the investigation process, authorities discovered that the man was babysitting his partner’s child because the woman was hospitalized from a drug overdose.
Authorities also said the woman unwillingly left the child with the man because of his history of violence and drug use. The man even called the woman to get her child because he had something to do. When authorities asked the man about the child’s injuries, he reportedly replied that he doesn’t hit kids, explaining that any bruises on the child’s body were the result of slipping in the bathroom. In a follow-u interview, the man reportedly agreed that the child’s injuries ould only be the result of physical abuse. The 32-year-old man is being held without bond, court records say.