A man allegedly beat his girlfriend's three-year-old daughter to death before calling his partner to tell her the toddler would not wake up.
Terrance Space, 23, is accused of murdering little Lehlani Edwards, who died from her injuries after the attack on Friday.
Space fled before police arrived, investigators in Illinois said.
Lehlani suffered hemorrhaging to her adrenal gland and a lacerated liver as a result of the attack, according to court documents.
According to the Chicago Tribune Space, who had been dating Lehlani's mum since February, was babysitting the little girl alone from 6pm to midnight on Friday.
He rang his partner and told her that her daughter would not wake up.
Lehlani's mum rang 911, and Space told her could not be there when police arrived.
The toddler was rushed to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, but was pronounced dead shortly after 1.20am on Saturday.
Space was later arrested by police and charged with first-degree murder.
The suspect said he was the only person to have been in the apartment with Lehlani, but denied causing the fatal injuries.
