Child Abuse Death: Sex Offender Dad Charged In Murder Of 5-Month-Old Baby

DEKALB, IL — The father of a 5-month-old baby is facing charges including first-degree murder and aggravated battery after the infant was airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries before dying a day later.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the baby as Asher Larson. On Thursday, the medical examiner's office listed baby Asher's cause of death as "multiple injuries, child abuse" and ruled it a homicide.

DeKalb police said officers responded at 4:19 p.m. Monday to the emergency room at Northwestern Kishwaukee Community Hospital, where the baby boy was being treated for what appeared to be life-threatening injuries.

Police said the infant was brought to the hospital by his father, 30-year-old Dominic G. Larson, "for advanced medical treatment."

According to a news release from police, DeKalb County Sheriff's deputies made contact with Larson before local police arrived, and noticed he appeared to be intoxicated. Deputies ordered him to stay and wait to speak to officers from the DeKalb Police Department.

Instead, police said, Larson attempted to walk away and "had to be physically restrained and handcuffed by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Deputies" before he was taken to the DeKalb Police Department for questioning.

Meanwhile, the baby was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for further treatment.

On Tuesday, police say they were notified by Loyola staff that, due to the severity of his injuries, including a skull fracture and brain hemorrhages, the baby was unlikely to survive and had been placed on life support. Asher Larson was pronounced dead by Loyola staff at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the DeKalb County State's Attorney’s Office approved first-degree murder charges for Larson, along with charges of aggravated battery, reckless conduct, and endangering the life and health of a child.

DeKalb County court records show that prosecutors filed a petition to deny pretrial release for Larson.

According to Illinois State Police records, this is not the first time Larson has been charged with harming a child. Since 2020, he has been on the Illinois sex offender registry.

According to a 2018 news article, Larson was accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in Lee County in November 2017.

According to the sex offender registry, he was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under age 9 and must register for life. His most recent registration is listed as Feb. 17, 2026. He is categorized as a sexual predator under the registry.

DeKalb police called baby Asher's death a "horrific and senseless crime," adding that a thorough investigation "led to the immediate arrest of this violent offender."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact the DeKalb Police Department.