Aunt's Boyfriend Charged with Murder in 3-Year-Old Girl's Death

A 42-year-old Chicago man is accused of killing a 3-year-old girl inside her Oak Forest home.

Jessie B. Rodriguez, 42, was charged with first degree murder on Saturday, according to police. Gina Presley, 3, of the 15300 block of Walnut Road was pronounced dead on Tuesday. Police said the Cook Count medical examiner's office has ruled the death a homicide.

Rodriguez is the boyfriend of Presley's aunt and legal guardian, police said. He was living in Oak Forest despite having a Chicago address. Rodriguez was one of two people held for questioning by Oak Forest police following the girl's death inside the Walnut Road home. He will be taken to Cook County jail on Saturday to await a bond hearing.

The other person held by Oak Forest police has not been identified and is working with police.

Authorities have confirmed one prior report of alleged abuse involving Presley from March 19. Police said on Friday the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services was involved with family. A spokesman for the agency told Patch that the girl had not been under their protective custody.

Police received a 911 call at about 11:22 p.m. on Tuesday saying that the 3-year-old girl was choking. She was later pronounced dead. Police said an autopsy determined she died of blunt force trauma to the head.

"A child homicide motivates everyone in law enforcement to determine what happened and who is responsible," said Oak Forest Police Chief Greg Anderson, in a media release. "This is not consolation for the family or the community and only begins to provide a response to such a horrific act."

The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the Oak Forest Police Department are working together in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Oak Forest Police Department at 708-687-1376.

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