© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Coroner: Baby in Homicide Incident Was Suffocated

The Peoria County Coroner says a 6-month-old girl died from a lack of oxygen to her brain. 

Coroner Jamie Harwood says she suffocated. Congential defects and SIDS were ruled out as causes of death in an autopsy.

The baby's father, 20-year-old Kyle Purser of Peoria, is now charged with her murder. Harwood said authorities are still determining where the suffocation happened. 

The baby died on September 8. Purser was arrested Tuesday.

This is Peoria's 21st homicide of 2019.

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Tim Shelley is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.