Caretaker 'Snapped,' Killed Kyrian Knox Over How Much It Cost to Watch Him: Prosecutors

CHICAGO, IL — Prosecutors alleged Wednesday in court that the Rockford man entrusted with taking care of 2-year-old Kyrian Knox "snapped" over how much it cost to look after the boy and killed the child, believing that chopping up the body and dumping it into a West Side park's lagoon would cover up the murder, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Kamel Harris, 41, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, concealment of homicidal death and dismembering a body in the death of Kyrian, whose dismembered body was found in the Garfield Park's lagoon in September of 2015. He is being held without bail.

Kyrian's mother had left the boy with Harris and his girlfriend in Rockford for two weeks in August of 2015 while she moved from Rockford to Iowa. On Wednesday, prosecutors brought up instances of Harris confessing to others that he had murdered Kyrian while watching him, the report stated.

Early reports had said Harris allegedly killed Kyrian when the lactose-intolerant boy wouldn't stop crying after drinking milk. In court Wednesday, prosecutors claimed Harris was upset that the child's mother didn't give the couple enough money to babysit for about two weeks, the Tribune reports.

More Coverage on Patch

• Caretaker Accused of Killing, Dismembering Boy Found in Garfield Park Lagoon
• Garfield Park Lagoon Toddler Identified as Missing Boy From Rockford
• Police Sketch Shows What Dismembered Toddler May Have Looked Like
• Chicago Police Will ‘Stop at Nothing’ to Find Person Responsible for Dismembered Child in Lagoon
• Police to Drain Lagoon Where Child’s Severed Limbs and Head Were Found

Harris allegedly told another person that "he snapped, and the next thing he knew the little boy was on the ground and not responding," the report stated. Authorities have not revealed how Kyrian was killed.

After the boy was dead, Harris wrapped his body and drove to Chicago in a borrowed 1996 Chevrolet Camaro, which was photographed by and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority camera at about 6 p.m. Aug. 31, the report added. Kyrian's blood was later found in the car after Harris had told police the boy had never been in the car.

In the city, Harris — who grew up in Chicago and still has family on the West Side — dismembered Kyrian's body, put the remains in plastic bags tied around barbells and sunk them in park's lagoon, the report stated. The first body parts were then discovered Sept. 5.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil called Harris a danger "to himself and society" before denying bail, the report stated. He has been placed in a one-person cell since his arrest Monday night, the report added.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Kamel Harris, 41 (photo via Chicago Police Department)

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