© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Man Accused in Death of Girl, 4, Who Spilled Juice on Xbox

WAUKEGAN - Prosecutors say they'll seek a life sentence for a suburban Chicago man accused of beating a 4-year-old girl to death after she spilled juice on an Xbox video console.

The Chicago Tribune cites prosecutors as saying "heinous" circumstances justify the sentence for 19-year-old Johnathan Fair, of Waukegan, if he's convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's daughter, Skylar Mendez.

Lake County prosecutors say Fair was babysitting Skylar last month when she was fatally injured. Fair brought her to a hospital and initially claimed she'd fallen. She died a few days later.

Defense attorney Sam Amirante told The Associated Press Sunday that he's confident his client will eventually be acquitted.

A grand jury indicted Fair Wednesday. Prosecutors announced their intentions on sentencing Thursday.

Fair's arraignment is Feb. 17.

 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.