(KMOV) -- Police charged 22-year-old Julian Gates of Belleville with first degree murder in the death of three-year-old Mia Caito. Police say Caito died Friday night of suspicious causes. Family members found her unresponsive in their home and called police.
Deputies say Gates was babysitting Caito Friday evening when he suddenly starting beating the girl.
Witnesses say they heard Gates battering the child from outside the home.
Caito died while being rushed to the hospital. Officials say she was bruised head to toe.
Gates is being held in the St. Clair County Jail under a $2 million bond.
