10/24/2021- 8:26 a.m.
Wilfredo Cruz, 43, and Milixen Ardon, 24, were arrested Tuesday for first-degree murder, say police in Chicago.
The two people are accused of killing a toddler. Officers identified the child only as a 2-year-old girl.
The girl was found “unresponsive in the 6600 block of S. California” Avenue, police wrote. The location is near Marquette Park in the city’s Chicago Lawn neighborhood.
“An investigation by Area One detectives revealed [the defendants] were responsible for the October 19, 2021 death,” they added.
Officers did not specify the alleged motive or explain the defendants’ links to Zelaya.“The victim had sustained multiple injuries consistent with child abuse,” they wrote.
Ardon and Cruz were arrested Tuesday at 12:20 p.m. in the 2700 block of W. 68th St., officers said. That’s about a seven-minute walk from where Zelaya was found.
The child had sustained burns and bruises to her face and body, authorities said in a CBS Chicago report. She was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital.
Ardon and Cruz are scheduled for bond court Friday afternoon.
Officers told Law&Crime that more information would be available at the court proceeding.
Judge Mary Catherine Marubio had both Ardon and Cruz help without bail, citing the prosecution’s account. Authorities said Zelaya sustained injuries including abrasions almost all over her body, burns on her hands, contusions, and a hole on her face from being hit.
She was underweight for her age and had yellowing teeth, but the bruising was so extensive that the medical examiner could not use her skin to determine malnourishment.
