A 28-year-old man is facing first-degree murder charges in the beating death of a 9-month-old boy last week in the city’s Chicago Lawn neighborhood, police say.
Authorities say that Joshua Juarez was one of two people taken into custody on Jan. 5 in connection with the baby’s death. Juarez is facing one felony count of first degree murder in the death of his son, who was pronounced dead at an area hospital Saturday.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that 9-month-old Josue Juarez died Saturday from blunt force trauma consistent with child abuse. The baby’s death was ruled a homicide.
According to police, the child’s parents told paramedics that Josue had been choking on food, but hospital staff told police that the baby showed signs of “extensive trauma.”
Joshua Juarez will appear in bond court on Wednesday, police say.
A 30-year-old woman was also taken into custody Sunday, but has not been charged in connection with the baby’s death.
