PEORIA, IL A 20-year-old man has been charged with aggravated battery to a child after his infant son was hospitalized with severe injuries. Jaravion Nichols has been booked into the Peoria County Jail with no bond following his indictment on Tuesday.
On December 12, police responded to a local hospital where a car had dropped off a 2-month-old child suffering from critical head trauma. Medical professionals discovered multiple brain bleeds and fractures in the infant’s body during examination.
Careful analysis revealed bleeding within the eyes, brain swelling, and rib and leg fractures. Medical staff expressed concerns that the child’s injuries were not accidental.
Detectives launched an investigation after being informed of the child’s critical condition. Interviews with individuals who had contact with the baby did not yield any explanations for the severity of the injuries.
The investigation revealed that Nichols was the only individual caring for the baby at the time the injuries were sustained. Authorities apprehended him while responding to the 2000 block of Northeast Jefferson Avenue.
Nichols was indicted on aggravated battery charges and arrested on Tuesday. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to uncover further details surrounding the case.
Nichols is scheduled for arraignment on February 5.
