Cicero man charged in beating death of toddler

CICERO – A Cicero man was charged with the murder of an 18-month-old boy that was left in his care Thursday.

Martin Alvarado Jr., 23, of the 1600 block of 49th Court, was charged with first degree murder. Alvarado was denied bond Monday at the Cook County's Maybrook Courthouse in Maywood. Alvarado's next hearing is scheduled for April 28 at 9 a.m. in Maywood.

The Cicero Police and Fire departments responded to a call of an unresponsive child at a home in the 1600 block of 49th Court Thursday, according to police reports.

The child, Edwin Eli O’Reilly, was rushed to MacNeal Hospital where he died as a result of his injuries, police said.

Investigators learned the child was in the care of Alvarado Jr., who was identified as the boyfriend of the child's mother. Investigators said the child was crying and urinated on Alvaredo Jr. as he was changing the child's diaper.

Police allege Alvaredo became enraged and struck the child multiple times, which resulted in the child's death.

During interviews with police investigators through Sunday, Alvarado Jr. made incriminating statements and gave a video-taped confession of his actions that caused the child's death, police said.

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