Man charged with fatally stabbing girl, 12, in Sheridan Park

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man has been charged in connection with the beating and stabbing death of a 12-year-old girl in Chicago's Sheridan Park neighborhood Sunday.

John Singleton, 31, of Chicago, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping - inflict harm, and one count of aggravated harm to Police/Department of Corrections/Department of Human Services, all felonies, police said Monday evening. Singleton was serving time for an aggravated battery conviction and was released on parole in April.

Alexis Stubbs, 12, was apparently beaten and stabbed in the hallway just outside of her second floor apartment in the 4600-block of North Beacon Street around 9:45 p.m. She was apparently stabbed multiple times and a hammer may even have been used in her beating. Police have called the incident a domestic dispute.

Reginald Taylor, the building's maintenance manager, said he knew Alexis and her mother well.

"So sweet, so sweet, she was a sweet girl. She put in your mind when she was little of Shirley Temple. She had the curly hair, such a sweet little girl," Taylor said.

Alexis was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

Community activist and crisis responder Andrew Holmes says police were able to quickly find the possible suspect hiding in a portable toilet at a nearby construction site.

"His phone had been pinging in the area for the last two hours, so the detectives had been monitoring his phone and his phone was pinging not too far from here and they got out of their cars and started searching on foot," Holmes said.

Right now, for operators of this apartment building, the main priority is caring for the other residents.

"It's absolutely devastating for everybody who lives here. We have a very tight knit group of residents and our staff that works with them. This is a tragedy both for our residents and staff," said Scott Ammarell, the building's COO.

As police investigate motive and connection to the girl, those who knew Alexis struggle with the news.

"It really breaks my heart. My heart is just ripped out." said Alicia McFadden, the girl's neighbor. She said Alexis pretended McFadden was her aunt.

"She gave me a hug Friday and I was like, 'I'll see you later.' And I will never see her," McFadden said.

Support is being offered to the girl's mother and other residents at the building, as it's unclear what they may have seen or witnessed Sunday night.

Surveillance cameras inside and outside the building may have captured the crime as it happened.

A bond hearing for Singleton has been set for 12 p.m. Tuesday.