CrimeCrime

Willow Long Death: Justin DeRyke, Uncle, Arrested After Illinois Girl's Body Found

Uncle Arrested After Missing Girl's Body Found
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Senior Editor, HuffPost

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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 and 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."

On Sunday, Long's mother said she was taking a 90-minute nap due to a headache. When she awoke, Long was missing. Police initially thought Long disappeared while reenacting a scene from the movie she was watching, "The Princess and the Frog."

There are inconsistencies between the stories DeRyke and Long's mother told, including whether Long was missing in the first place.

An autopsy is underway at a hospital in Effingham. Police say the death appears to be a homicide, though an official cause of death hasn't been released.

The state attorney's office is expected to file first-degree murder charges today, and DeRyke will make an initial court appearance.

Editor's Note: Story updated for clarity.

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Before You Go

Missing Children
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Click here to submit information to the Tip Line. (credit:http://wwwblackandmissinginccom)
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