By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
Uriel Vega | Chicago Police
A man has been charged with beating Raiylana Vasquez, his girlfriend's 21-month-old baby, to death Tuesday morning in their Back of the Yards neighborhood home.
Uriel Vega, 22, faces one count of first-degree murder for the death of Raiylana, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was responsible for taking care of the child at the time of her death.
Officers responded at 11:22 a.m. to the 4700 block of South Honore and found Raiylana unresponsive, authorities said. She had suffered “obvious” signs of trauma.
The toddler was taken to Holy Cross Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Wednesday found she died of multiple injuries due to child abuse, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Raiylana Vasquez | Facebook
Police said the investigation revealed that the girl died from blunt force trauma caused by Vega, who lives with the child and her mother. He was scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover funeral costs.
The state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating him for allegations of abuse and neglect, according to a spokeswoman.
DCFS has had prior contact with the baby’s mother, according to the spokeswoman. Two investigations, one in September 2015 and one in August 2016, proved unfounded. The mother was indicated for neglect in February 2016.
There are three siblings in the family who do not live with the mother, but with another family member who has custody, according to DCFS.