Back of the Yards man held without bail in baby’s murder

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Uriel Vega is charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 21-month-old daughter, Raiylana Vasquez. | Chicago Police photo

A Back of the Yards man was ordered held without bail Thursday for allegedly beating his girlfriend’s 21-month-old baby to death.

While baby-sitting Raiylana Vasquez on Tuesday, 22-year-old Uriel Vega pulled the infant off the couch, threw her across the kitchen and into a bedroom and then stomped on her stomach, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Jullian Brevard said. Vega is charged with murder.

Raiylana was having trouble breathing and her eyes rolled back from the attack in the the 4700 block of South Honore, Brevard said.

Vega called the girl’s mother to tell her the baby was not breathing and then ran down to downstairs to tell a neighbor, Brevard said.

The neighbor saw the unresponsive child and Vega called 911, Brevard said.

The toddler was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m. that day, according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Wednesday found Raiylana died of trauma to the abdomen. She also had a severed pancreas, lacerated liver, severed arteries and several bruises on her abdomen and cheek, Brevard said.

Vega allegedly admitted to detectives that he hit, pushed and stepped on Raiylana.

Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. told Vega in court, “You are a danger.”

The state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating Vega for allegations of abuse and neglect, according to a spokeswoman.

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 who do not live with the mother; they live with another family member who has custody, according to DCFS.

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