JOLIET, Ill. — A 25-year-old suburban Chicago man is jailed on $5 million bond after being charged with killing his fiancee's toddler.
Will County prosecutors have charged Lee Ponshe of Elwood with first-degree murder.
Authorities contend Ponshe killed 18-month-old Halli Burton. The toddler and her mother, Jessi Dunlap, had lived in the southwestern Illinois town of White Hall before they moved to the Chicago area just days before the child's death.
Dunlap found the toddler unresponsive last Wednesday. The girl later died at a hospital.
A preliminary autopsy report shows the child died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Ponshe's preliminary hearing is set for May 5.
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Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Will County prosecutors have charged Lee Ponshe of Elwood with first-degree murder.
Authorities contend Ponshe killed 18-month-old Halli Burton. The toddler and her mother, Jessi Dunlap, had lived in the southwestern Illinois town of White Hall before they moved to the Chicago area just days before the child's death.
Dunlap found the toddler unresponsive last Wednesday. The girl later died at a hospital.
A preliminary autopsy report shows the child died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Ponshe's preliminary hearing is set for May 5.
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Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
