By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times
Uriel Vega | Chicago Police
A Back of the Yards man was ordered held without bond Thursday for beating his girlfriend’s 21-month-old baby, Raiylana Vasquez, to death on Tuesday, according to prosecutors.
While baby-sitting Raiylana, 22-year-old Uriel Vega pulled the infant off the couch, threw her across the kitchen and into a bedroom, and then stomped on her stomach, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Jullian Brevard said in court. Vega is charged with first-degree murder.
Raiylana was having trouble breathing and her eyes rolled back after the attack in the the 4700 block of South Honore, Brevard said.
Vega called the girl’s mother to tell her the baby was not breathing, then ran downstairs to tell a neighbor, Brevard said. The neighbor saw the unresponsive child and Vega called 911.
Raiylana Vasquez | Facebook
The toddler was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m. that day, according to the medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy Wednesday found Raiylana died of trauma to the abdomen. She also had a severed pancreas, lacerated liver, severed arteries and several bruises on her abdomen and cheek, Brevard said.
Vega allegedly admitted to detectives that he hit, pushed and stepped on Raiylana.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. told Vega in court, “You are a danger.”
The state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating 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.