A Peoria man was arrested Tuesday in connection to an incident from last month that left a 2-month-old baby hospitalized with severe head trauma.
Jaravion D. Nichols, 20, was taken into custody without incident at 4 p.m. in the 2000 block of Northeast Jefferson Avenue on charges of aggravated battery of a child.
The Peoria Police Department said that a bill of indictment was issued by Peoria County Circuit Court on Tuesday, shortly after the lead detective in the case testified before a grand jury. A warrant was subsequently issued for Nichols’ arrest.
The police department said that at 5:08 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2025, officers were dispatched to a hospital after receiving a report that a 2-month-old had arrived at the emergency room via private vehicle in need of medical care. Doctors determined that the baby had severe head trauma and was in critical condition at the time of his admission.
Detectives were later notified by hospital staff that the trauma did not appear to be an accident.
Interviews were conducted with multiple people who were in contact with the baby prior to the injuries, but no feasible explanation was found that was consistent with medical findings. An examination revealed that the child had several fractures on his body, major head trauma, brain bleeding and hemorrhaging in the retinas.
Police obtained numerous search warrants, with Nichols identified as a suspect before his arrest Tuesday. He was transported to Peoria police headquarters for questioning before he was taken to the Peoria County Jail, where he awaits a pre-trial detention hearing set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. in front of Circuit Judge David Brown.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone who has further information is asked to contact the police department at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria man arrested after baby suffers severe head trauma, fractures
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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