MsMisunderstood
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SourceBLOOMINGTON -- A 14-month-old girl's death -- allegedly at the hands of her father -- was due to head injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma, the Peoria County coroner said Saturday.
Coroner Johnna Ingersoll's office conducted the autopsy on Erika Meece of Bloomington on Saturday.
Police found Erika inside her father Jeff Meece's home after responding to reports a man breaking glass with a baseball bat. She was transferred to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, around 11:20 a.m. Thursday and was unresponsive and pronounced brain dead. She was formally pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m. Friday.
Ingersoll could not say whether Erika suffered some of her injuries from being struck with a bat, as Jeff Reece allegedly told authorities while being questioned. The Reece family told The Pantagraph that police told them she was struck with a bat.
Jeff Reece was charged Friday with three counts of first-degree murder and was being held on $1 million bond at the McLean County jail.
Family say Erika, who lives with her mother, Renee Frisch, elsewhere in Bloomington, only visited her father Thursdays and Fridays. Ingersoll said she was told Erika arrived at her father's Madison Street home around 7 a.m. Thursday.
The 911 call about the man breaking glass came in around 9:20 a.m., police said previously.
They held a vigil last night too
BLOOMINGTON -- Nearly 50 people gathered for a Friday vigil for 14-month-old Erika Meece, who died from injuries suffered Thursday at her father's home.
She was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m. Friday at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria. Jeff Meece, 47, remained in the McLean County jail, charged with Erika's murder.
Organizers of Friday's vigil said it allowed people to show respect without infringing on the family's privacy.
On Friday night, the solemn group -- made up of co-workers of Erika's mother, Renee Frisch, Erika's relatives and friends, and even some strangers -- assembled about 7 p.m. at Miller Park in Bloomington.
With a light rain sprinkling, they took shelter under the park's concession stand.
After lighting white and purple candles, the group opened with The Lord's Prayer.
Later, a few mourners said the rosary quietly, while small groups comforted each other in silence.
Later, the group sang "Jesus Loves Me," in honor of Erika.
"I've been to vigils. But this one is so sad," said J.J. Keys, of Bloomington, a longtime family friend.
George and Pam Forrest of Bloomington, relatives of Erika, were among the crowd. "Please keep everybody in your prayers," said Pam Forrest. "She was a very sweet girl."
Vigil organizer Jeremy Burkhart of Normal said he didn't know the toddler, or her family, but wanted to show Erika's mother that she was in the community's thoughts.
He said the tragic events broke his heart. "I have a child due Dec. 24, a girl. And I have a niece I care for who is the same age as Erika -- 14 months," said Burkhart.
He decided Friday afternoon to set up the vigil. After the service, Burkhart thanked each person who attended, with a handshake or hug.
"It's good to come together as a community so we can let Erika's mother know we're thinking of her," he said.
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