Chicago Man Admits Killing Girlfriend’s 19-Month-Old Daughter and Dumping Her Body

On Wednesday, Mar. 19, James Harris IV confessed to the murder of his girlfriend’s 19-month-old daughter, Ameriah Roberson.

According to NBC Chicago, prosecutors have confirmed that Harris, who had been questioned earlier this week, has been charged with first-degree murder.

The publication reports Roberson was reported missing at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 16. A person walking discovered the baby’s body just two west of 140th Court and Stewart Avenue in the Riverdale Park District of Chicago. However, the child’s identity was not immediately confirmed.

On Monday, an autopsy indicated the child’s direct cause of death – subdural hematoma and assault. Police classified the case as “a death investigation.”

Authorities stated that Harris and the baby’s mother, Jocelyn Roberson, were both questioned Monday night. In an official statement on Wed. Harris gave a detailed confession. He admitted that he’d killed his girlfriend’s daughter in his apartment and dumped her body.

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The baby’s maternal grandmother, Bernadette Madison, recounted her daughter’s relationship with Harris. She explained that her daughter had known Harris for years. However, they recently started dating several months prior to the baby’s death. Madison went on to state that he was not the baby’s biological father.

“Who would do something to a defenseless baby?,” Madison said during an interview with WGN-TV. “What could she possible have done to make you became that irate and kill her?”

She went on to describe her granddaughter as ” a sweet girl with huge black eyes and dimples.” She called the child her “little ‘angel’ who loved music and was her dancing partner.”

Harris’ aunt, Tamika Vaughen, spoke publicly about her nephew with the Chicago Tribune. She stated that Harris has never displayed any behavior that would indicate he could be homicidal.

“We don’t know what happened or what would make him do this,” Vaughen said. “This is heartbreaking to our family and it’s a terrible tragedy. Our family loves our babies, so I just can’t understand how he could do this.”

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