MN Man, 40, Killed His Girlfriend's 14-Month-Old Daughter: Police

LITTLE FALLS, MN — A 40-year-old Little Falls, Minnesota man is accused of killing a 14-month-old girl.

Erik Adrian Blanco was arrested last week and charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Riverlynn VanNorman.

Riverlynn died from multiple head and neck injuries "consistent with homicidal violence," police said. Blanco was caring for the child while the mother going to the liquor store, according to investigators.

If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison. He remains in custody at the Morrison County Jail with a bail set at $1,000,000.

"After an exhaustive and thorough investigation into this case, investigators have arrested Erik Blanco in connection with this heart-breaking tragedy," Little Falls Police Chief Greg Schimers said in a statement Wednesday.

"This case has deeply affected our community and our thoughts and condolences go out to Riverlynn's family during this unimaginably difficult time. The pain and sorrow they are feeling is shared by the entire community. We also would like to express our gratitude to the community for their patience, understanding, and support throughout the course of this long and difficult investigation."

On the morning of July 6, the Little Falls Police Department received a report of a medical emergency involving a toddler who was not breathing.

Authorities responded to the residence and began CPR on Riverlynn before she was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

At the scene, Riverlynn’s mother, "was hysterical, crying, and screaming her daughter’s name" while the mother's boyfriend — identified as Blanco —was "stressed and praying at times but otherwise unemotional," according to the criminal complaint.

Riverlynn was given emergency care at the hospital but was ultimately declared deceased. Authorities noted bruising on Riverlynn’s face and marks on her neck, the criminal complaint states.

In a police interview, Riverlynn's mother said they had been staying at Blanco's residence for about a week. Skroch had left for the liquor store and left Riverlynn with Blanco, according to the criminal complaint.

When she arrived back at the residence, Riverlynn wasn’t breathing and Blanco was attempting CPR on her, authorities said.

In a separate police interview, Blanco "was unable to provide an explanation for the homicidal injuries that caused Riverlynn’s death," and simply said that "he did not do it," the criminal complaint states.

Police noted Blanco's history of violent crimes, including being convicted of assaulting a one-year-old child who suffered a large skull fracture while in his care. Blanco was dating the child’s mother at the time, according to the criminal complaint.

Blanco claimed that the child fell out of a crib, but he subsequently plead guilty to assaulting the child, according to authorities.