Vernon Henry, 26, of the 6600 block of South Paulina Street, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection to an incident that resulted in a 20-month-old boy being taken to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition, according to a release from police News Affairs.
The incident occurred about 7:45 p.m. in the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue, police said.
The baby suffered burns and trauma to the head, face and chest, police said. Henry was charged after a police investigation revealed he was responsible for the child's injuries, according to the release.
Police could not immediately provide further details about how the boy was injured.
The boy was pronounced dead at Comer Children's Hospital at 4:38 p.m. Saturday, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday to determine the cause and manner of his death.
As of Friday morning, the state Department of Child and Family Services was investigating the boy's mother for allegations of neglect, spokeswoman Veronica Resa said.
The agency has had no prior reports regarding the family, and there are no other children in the home, she said.
Henry is scheduled to appear in bond court Sunday, police said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2014.)
