Wisconsin man accused in beating death of girlfriend's toddler daughter

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Wisconsin man is facing reckless homicide and child abuse charges after investigators said he beat his girlfriend’s toddler daughter, who later died.

According to WIFR-TV, police arrested Steven Horan, 30, of Janesville, on Saturday after police responded to a report of an unresponsive 15-month-old girl at an Eisenhower Avenue home. The girl's mother said Horan was watching the child while she was at work, authorities said. The mother said the child appeared to be seriously hurt when she returned home, so she performed CPR on the girl until emergency crews responded, WMTV reported.

The toddler, who had suffered non-accidental blunt-force trauma, died Monday at a nearby hospital, authorities told WCLO.

Janesville police Lt. Charles Aagaard said investigators learned that Horan "had consumed alcohol throughout the evening" while taking care of the child, according to WKOW-TV.

“That definitely played a role,” he added.

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