A man is in custody in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 21-month-old baby, Raiylana Vasquez, who died Tuesday morning in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
Authorities responded to the 4700 block of South Honore at 11:22 a.m. and found Raiylana unresponsive, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Police said the toddler had suffered “obvious” signs of trauma.
Raiylana was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Wednesday found she died of multiple injuries due to child abuse, and her death was ruled a homicide.
A 22-year-old man, who was responsible for taking care of the child at the time, was taken into custody, police said.
The state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the mother’s boyfriend for allegations of abuse and neglect, according to a spokeswoman. The investigation is pending.
DCFS has had prior contact with the baby’s mother, according to the spokeswoman. Two investigations, one in September 2015 and one in August 2016, proved unfounded. The mother was indicated for neglect in February 2016.
There are three siblings in the family but they do not live with the mother, according to the DCFS spokeswoman. Another family member has custody.