A Peoria man is accused of first-degree murder in the death of his 7-month-old son Tuesday morning.
The Peoria Police Department says Dwayne Davis, 41, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in the 2000 block of N. North Street, hours after Eland Davis was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
Officers were called to the 300 block of South Kersee Street shortly after 10 a.m. on a report of a baby who was not breathing and without a heartbeat.
They discovered Eland in an upstairs bedroom, with Peoria Fire Department and Advanced Medical Transport personnel already on the scene attempting life-saving measures. The boy was taken by ambulance to the hospital and later pronounced deceased.
Investigators were told Eland had been placed in bed overnight with a parent, and the parent rolled onto the child during the night and awoke to find the infant unresponsive.
Police said an autopsy revealed internal injuries that did not come from a rollover death, but rather from a “traumatic, non-accidental event.” A police spokesperson confirmed Davis is the boy's father and was the parent sleeping with the child.
In a social media post, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said an initial clinical impression did not match the report of a rollover death. He said the autopsy showed Eland suffered “abusive head trauma perpetrated by another.”
The incident is the city's second homicide involving a young child this week.
Following a police interview, Davis was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and endangering the life and health of a child, resulting in death. He was transported to the Peoria County Jail.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, submit an anonymous tip through tip411, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (309) 673-9000.
