ARMANEY COTTON - 2 yo/ Accused: Devell Johnson - Chicago IL

Murder charges have been filed against the boyfriend of a woman whose
2-year-old daughter was found beaten to death in his South Side home
over the weekend, her body covered with bruises and what appeared to be
human bite marks.

Devell M. Johnson, 23, of the 5500 block of
South Emerald Avenue, is charged with first-degree murder, according to
Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's
office.

Armaney Cotton was found unresponsive Saturday afternoon
at Johnson's home in the Englewood neighborhood, officials said. The
girl's mother, Brittany Cotton, said it appeared "somebody tortured my
child."

“This is somebody who is supposed to care for her,” she said through heavy sobs Sunday.

Cotton,
a housekeeper at a downtown hotel, said she dropped Armaney off at
Johnson's home at about 7 a.m. Saturday he could watch the child while
Cotton went to work.

An ambulance was dispatched to the home at
4:28 p.m. and the little girl was declared dead at 4:42 p.m. at St.
Bernard Hospital and Health Care Centers, according to the medical
examiner’s office.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services had no previous contact with the family, according to agency
spokesman Kendall Marlowe.

The child’s uncle, Jacques Allbritton, 24, said the death is a tragedy he can't begin to describe.

“Everything
that’s happened within the last couple of days, really I’m speechless,
we’ve never endured any pain like this ever,’’ Allbritton said.

He said he didn't know Johnson but was pleased that charges have been brought.

“I’m pleased because I need some kind of justice for my niece,’’ he said. “I’m pleased that something has happened.’’

Allbritton said the girl's mother was at the funeral home Monday afternoon making arrangements.

Relatives
remembered Armaney as a “bright little girl” who loved the color pink
and cartoons. “She was the joy of the household,” said cousin Demetria
Cobbs, 21.

Cousin Thelma Moore, 20, said, “We will never see her pretty smile.”
Johnson was expected to appear in Cook County Violence Court for a bond hearing on Tuesday.
Johnson
had been free on $25,000 bail in connection with a Sept. 17, 2011
arrest, his first arrest on serious charges, according to court records.
Previous misdemeanor charges dating back to 2006 against Johnson had
all been dismissed or dropped. Last year, police arrested Johnson about
2:30 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 1000 block of West Addison Street, in
possession of a handgun, according to police and court records.




After he made bail in the gun
case, Johnson was again arrested on Oct. 11 about 2:20 p.m. in an alley
in the 4700 block of North Sheridan Road, according to court records.
Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully possessing a
blackjack, served two days in jail and paid a $250 fine, according to
police and court records. He was scheduled to appear in court in
connection with the gun charge on May 19.
http://www.wgnradio.com/news/local/breaking/chi-armaney-cotton-2-year-old-girl-murder-devell-johnson,0,4037718.story