Uncle charged with murder of 10-month-old niece in Berwyn

A man has been charged with the murder of his 10-month-old niece, who died five days after being rushed to a hospital last month in west suburban Berwyn.

Jose Giancarlo Difatta-Perez, 31, was charged Monday with first-degree murder for the death of a 10-month-old Giselle Estaphanie Cuellar, according to a statement from Berwyn police.

Giselle began having trouble breathing at Difatta-Perez’s home in the 1200 block of Cuyler Avenue in Berwyn on July 18, according to police.

Her mother took her to the emergency room at MacNeal Hospital, where doctors learned she had suffered trauma to the brain, and was bleeding from “non-accidental trauma,” police said.

She was transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where she underwent surgery, but died at 12:09 a.m. on July 23. An autopsy at the time did not rule on cause and manner of death pending further studies.

Police said the baby lived in the 1300 block of 58th Avenue in Cicero.

The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services is continuing their investigation into Giselle’s death, spokeswoman Veronica Resa said.

Difatta-Perez is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday in Maywood.

“On behalf of Mayor Robert Lovero and the Berwyn Police Department, our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the Cuellar family,” the statement from Berwyn police said.