An Illinois man is facing attempted murder charges after police say he told others he beat and strangled his girlfriend’s daughter to death, then “brought her back to life.”
QuadCities reports that authorities issued a warrant last week for 30-year-old Joshua Hasselbacher for an incident that happened a few years back. According to police, family members of a then-2-year-old girl said Hasselbacher put the girl’s head in a freezer for an hour when she wouldn’t stop crying.
Court documents indicate the incident happened while Hasselbacher lived with his girlfriend and her three children at the Country Elms Estates in Galesburg.
One of the girl’s brothers said that when the man took the child’s head out of the freezer, her face was completely purple. Hasselbacher then allegedly took the girl to a bed and suffocated her with a pillow, the outlet reported, citing court documents.
Hasselbacher’s friend reportedly told police that the man bragged about beating the girl before bringing her back to life.
When the child’s mother noticed her daughter passed out, the suspect allegedly told her the girl may have been bitten by a spider. When the woman saw that her daughter had black eyes, she “didn’t think much more of the incident at that time.”
The girl’s mother said she didn’t want to believe it at first, but later told Hasselbach’s parents about the incident in 2016. Court documents state this prompted Hasselbach to later admit to his parents what happened.
Around the same time, the suspect’s parents found “mold on the child’s medicine dropper and maggots in socks” while babysitting. Hasselbacher told his parents he saw demons in the child’s face.
When QuadCities attempted to talk to Hasselbacher’s father, James Hasselbacher, the man reportedly threatened to press charges.
The Register-Mail reports that tips sent to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department from the Department of Children and Family Services about the moldy medication prompted authorities to look further into the matter. Eight people later confided to police during interviews that Hasselbacher claimed brought the girl back to life after abusing her.
The girl’s brothers reportedly told police that they saw Hasselbacher beat their mother. One of the brother’s said the suspect kicked him in the nose.
Authorities issued the warrant for attempted murder to Hasselbacher at a state prison, where he’s serving time for an unrelated charge of attacking a police officer.
Knox County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Kerr said the suspect is expected to be sent to the Knox County jail after he completes his current prison sentence.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
