A man was arrested July 1 after police said he caused the death of a 7-month-old infant.
Dwayne D. Davis, 41, faces charges of first-degree murder and endangering the life and health of a child resulting in death. The Coroner’s Office identified the baby as Eland Davis, of Peoria.
The Peoria Police Department responded to a home in the 300 block of South Kersee on July 1 after receiving a report of a 7-month-old who was not breathing. When officers arrived, they found Eland in an upstairs bedroom, with Peoria Fire Department firefighters and paramedics providing CPR. Eland was soon transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An investigation began into his death, with the caregiver saying the child had been placed in bed with a parent overnight. Investigators were told the parent had rolled over in bed that night, finding the baby unresponsive upon waking up.
However, an autopsy later revealed that the child’s internal injuries were inconsistent with a rollover death and had matched the findings of a “traumatic, non-accidental” event.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Wednesday that the information initially provided to Peoria police didn’t match his office’s initial clinical impression of the baby. It was found that Eland died of abusive head trauma perpetrated by another person.
Davis was found later that day in the 2000 block of N. North Street and was taken into custody. He is being held at the Peoria County Jail.
Anyone with further information on the case is asked to contact Detective Kris Kampas with PPD at (309) 494-8366 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: Autopsy: Baby in Peoria died from ‘traumatic’ event
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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