Police suspect that a family member killed a 7-year-old girl who went missing Sunday.
Justin DeRyke, 22, of Watson, Ill., was arrested on Tuesday after authorities found Willow Long’s body south of town, CNN reports. DeRyke is the victim’s maternal uncle.
DeRyke’s father Dale told KDSK that his son confessed to the killing during police questioning. Justin DeRyke was reportedly watching Long and her younger brother on Saturday night while their mother was away from home. He told police that Willow woke up and started playing that night, when she ran outside and tripped in the yard, Dale DeRyke said.
“She ran, she tripped a stick went right through her neck and into her head,” he told the station. “He’s thinking oh my God, I killed her or she just died they are going to blame me, he’s not thinking correctly … I believe he put her out of her misery, and that’s all I can say for sure.”
Source: Huffington Post
