A grand jury in southern Illinois has indicted a man on charges that he stabbed his 7-year-old niece to death.
The indictment returned Wednesday by Effingham County grand jurors accuses 22-year-old Justin DeRyke of three counts of first-degree murder.
The indictment replaces a criminal complaint bearing those charges against DeRyke earlier this month.
Authorities allege DeRyke killed Willow Long late September 7th or early September 8th near the family's home in Watson.
Investigators say DeRyke insisted he killed his niece to "put her out of her misery" after he says she fell onto a brush pile and pierced her neck with a stick.
DeRyke is to appear in court again on Thursday with a public defender.