South Side Man Charged With Abusing 3-Week-Old Daughter
(STMW) -- A 3-week-old girl died Tuesday after she was allegedly abused by her father earlier this week in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
About 2:45 p.m. Saturday, rescue crews found Rachel Garcia not breathing at her home in the 5100 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
She was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, where she died Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., the medical examiner's office said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Rachel's father, 28-year-old Jose Garcia, faces one count of aggravated battery to a child in connection with the girl's death, police said. He was arrested Sunday about 10 a.m.
He was ordered held on $400,000 bond Tuesday, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office. Garcia is next scheduled to appear in court March 10.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the baby's mother and father for allegations of abuse, spokeswoman Veronica Resa said. The agency has not had prior contact with the family.
Rachel's sibling has been placed with family members under a DCFS-monitored safety plan, Resa said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
