Peoria Standard

A Peoria County judge has ordered Amarian D. Billups-Wilson, 18, to remain in custody while awaiting trial for the First Degree Murder of Clylen Ewing, an 18-month-old child who died under his care. The defendant also faces a charge of Aggravated Battery for injuring another child, aged five months, during the same incident.

On June 29, police were called to a residence on W. Wiswall St., South Peoria, at 6:20 p.m. They found Clylen Ewing unresponsive and not breathing with visible facial injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The five-month-old also had visible injuries and was hospitalized for observation.

An autopsy revealed that Clylen suffered multiple injuries including a lung contusion, liver lacerations, and rib fractures.

The mother of the deceased told authorities she left her four children in Billups-Wilson's care the previous night. Other children present reported witnessing Billups-Wilson striking both victims repeatedly and described him hitting Clylen with shoes and pushing him down stairs.

Billups-Wilson admitted during questioning to hitting Clylen several times but claimed he did not realize the severity due to intoxication.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information about this case to contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.