UPDATE: Horrific Details Of Years Of Abuse
ENGLEWOOD — Three people have been charged with concealing the death of 4-year-old Manuel Aguilar, found dead in an Englewood basement Tuesday night, according to police.
Firefighters responded to reports of a fire in the 1400 block of West Marquette Road Tuesday night and found the boy wrapped in a burned blanket. The boy was also partially burned, according to an arrest report.
Manuel was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and firefighters said they believed the boy was dead before the fire was intentionally set.
While responding to the fire, authorities saw three people run from the back of the house where Manuel was found, police said. Officers could smell lighter fluid on the group, and also found a bottle of lighter fluid near the boy, the arrest report says.
The people arrested in the case are: Alyssa Garcia, 27, Christian Camerena, 19, and Garcia's 17-year-old boyfriend, according to police.
The arrest report states that, after being arrested, Garcia asked police, unprompted: "What if something bad happened, and you didn't mean for it to happen?"
It is not clear how the three might have known the boy.
They have each been charged with concealing a death and attempted arson to a residence.
More charges could be leveled against the group if the child's death is ruled a homicide.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has not ruled on a cause or manner of Manuel's death, and police said detectives are waiting on the medical examiner's ruling before adding other charges.
The group is due in bond court Thursday.
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