A Peoria man will remain in custody until the outcome of legal proceedings for the alleged murder of an 18-month-old child.
Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos said a Peoria County judge ordered Amarian Billups-Wilson, 18, held Monday, pending a first-degree murder trial in connection with the death of Clylen Ewing, an infant left in Billups-Wilson’s care.
Billups-Wilson also faces a charge of aggravated battery for injuring a second child, a 5-month-old he was babysitting at the time of Clylen's death.
According to the state's attorney's news release, the child's mother told police she left four children in the care of Billups-Wilson on June 28, the night before the infant's death. The other children said they saw Billups-Wilson strike the child multiple times, hit him with shoes, and push him down the stairs, said authorities.
Police were called to the residence in the 2800 block of West Wiswall Street in Peoria the next day for a report of an unresponsive child.
The infant boy was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m. June 29, after he was brought by ambulance to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The child was unresponsive, not breathing, and did not have a pulse, said Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. Aggressive resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful.
Officials said medical screenings and an autopsy showed injuries, including a contusion on Ewing's lung, internal lacerations, two rib fractures, and bruising all over his body.
During an interview with police, Billups-Wilson allegedly admitted to hitting Ewing several times, but claimed he was unaware of the severity because he was intoxicated.
Billups-Wilson’s next court date is a July 31 arraignment. He remains in 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.
