Murder charges filed in child's death

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) - Lake County prosecutors have filed murder charges against a 21-year-old man in the beating death of his girlfriend's 18-month-old son.

Jesse J. Gilman Jr. of DeMotte is charged with murder, battery and neglect in the Oct. 5 death of Anthony M. Mogan at the Lowell home of the boy's mother, 18-year-old Alycia Szany.

Lake County Coroner David J. Pastrick says an autopsy shows a history of violent abuse.

A spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Child Services says a caseworker had visited the home before the boy's death, but could not elaborate on the case, citing privacy rules.

Gilman was in custody in the Lake County Jail Tuesday morning.

Authorities did not have an attorney listed for him.