Authorities said a California man fatally beat his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter with Down syndrome after she interrupted him while in his care.
According to an alert issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, Adam Hughes, 24, was watching his girlfriend’s children, including Kylee Willis, on the evening of March 26 when he became angry at Willis for interrupting him. Hughes allegedly assaulted Willis and put her in bed.
Police said Hughes found the unresponsive child hours later; she had blue fingers and lips. The suspect then called his girlfriend, Corrine Blake, for help.
Willis was reportedly hospitalized for head trauma and on life support before dying succumbing to her injuries on March 29, 2019.
A day after the alleged assault, Hughes and Blake were arrested and charged with willful cruelty to a child. Hughes was charged with murder following the 4-year-old’s death. KABC reported that he pleaded not guilty during a court hearing on Tuesday.
“The injuries to the 4-year old were obvious, intentional injuries,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Cindy Bachman said. “And then upon the investigators interviewing Hughes, he told them that the child – who had Down Syndrome – had interrupted him. He was busy, she had interrupted him and he got angry at her.”
Blake is currently free on bail while her boyfriend remains jailed without bond. The news station reported that an 18-month-old boy who lives in the home is in the custody of Children and Family Services.
Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Featured image: Kylee Willis/GoFundMe]
