Chicago Man Convicted Of Killing Oak Forest Girl, 3, In 2013

OAK FOREST, IL — A Chicago man was found guilty late Monday of fatally beating a 3-year-old Oak Forest girl five years ago. A Cook County jury took seven hours to convict Jessie Rodriguez, 48, of first-degree murder in the death of Gina Presley in 2013, the Daily Southtown reports.

Rodriguez's sentencing is set for Sept. 17. He faces between 20 to 60 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Rodriguez, who had been dating Gina's great aunt and guardian, was babysitting the girl March 26 in Oak Forest when paramedics were called because the 3-year-old was choking. Gina was pronounced dead early the next day at Palos Community Hospital, and an autopsy determined ruled her death a homicide caused blunt force trauma to the head.

RELATED: 'World Failed' Oak Forest Girl Killed In 2013: Prosecutors

Kimberly Debartolo — Gina's great aunt who met Rodriguez through an online dating site three months before the girl's death — backed up prosecutors' contentions in court last week. She had been granted immunity in exchange for her testimony.

"I can’t tell you exactly how he beat her to death," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Enrique Abraham said in his closing arguments Monday, according to the Southtown. "He beat Gina Presley to death."

Rodriguez testified he didn't beat Gina, and Patrick Campanelli, Rodriguez's attorney, accused Debartolo of beating the girl while his client went out for cigarettes, the report stated. Campanelli went so far as to re-enact the alleged abuse in court during the trial, the report added.

More Patch Coverage:

• Aunt's Boyfriend Charged With Murder In 3-Year-Old Girl's Death
• Bail Set At $10 Million For Man Charged With Murder Of 3-Year-Old Girl
• DCFS Investigating Guardian Of Slain Oak Forest Girl
• DCFS: Report Of Bruises On Oak Forest Girl 1 Week Before Death
• Did DCFS Fail Slain Oak Forest Toddler?

Prosecutors argued that there was no evidence of Debartolo ever beating Gina in the past, the report stated. They also pointed to Rodriguez's inconsistent statements surrounding the incident, the report added.

A week before Gina's death, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services received a report of bruises on the girl's body, and her autopsy revealed old and new injuries. In 2014, James Foutas, Gina's paternal grandfather, filed a wrongful death lawsuit and claims Oak Forest police and DCFS had been called numerous times before the 3-year-old's death to report abuse.

More via the Daily Southtown

Jessie Rodriguez (Photo via Oak Fores Police Department | Patch archive)