Friday, October 14, 2011

Dad charged in fatal beating of 3-year-old daughter (Chicago, Illinois)

Dad has been identified as JOVANNI TUFELE.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/8195676-418/father-charged-with-fatal-beating-of-3-month-old.html

Father charged with fatal beating of 3-month-old
SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE October 13, 2011 2:20PM

The father of a 3-month-old girl who died Tuesday of injuries suffered from child abuse has been charged with murder, police said.

Jovanni Tufele, 23, of the 5100 block of West Ainslie Street is scheduled in appear in bond court Friday, while the infant’s mother was released without being charged, police News Affairs officer Laura Kubiak said.

Jayden Tufele of the 5100 block of West Ainslie Street was pronounced dead at Children’s Memorial Hospital at 5:12 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Police said Jayden suffered a fractured collarbone, four acute rib fractures (and two older rib fractures that had been healing), bleeding on the brain in two areas and retinal hemorrhages in both eyes.

An autopsy Wednesday found she died of multiple injuries from child abuse and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Jovanni Tufele is Jayden’s biological father, police said. Allegations of abuse against both parents are being investigated by the Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services, spokesman Kendall Marlowe said Wednesday.

He said there were no other children in the home and the agency has had no prior contact with the family.