Illinois man pleads guilty to murdering 10-year-old Rockford girl
A Blue Island, Illinois man who was accused of murdering a 10-year-old Rockford girl earlier this year has pleaded guilty.
Antonio Monroe, 44, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges and was sentenced to 90 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Monroe was charged with the murder of 10-year-old Destiny Huggins in July.
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On July 8, Huggins and her sister were playing outside in the 1200 block of 9th Avenue when Monroe took both girls. Huggins' 6-year-old sister was able to get away and tell her mom that her sister had been taken.
Huggins' mom called police and police were able to find Huggins unresponsive about a half hour later. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.
Officers were able to track down Monroe and bring him into custody a few blocks away from the crime scene.
Monroe admitted he lured Huggins and her sister with the promise of money, according to the state's attorney's office.
"Today’s conviction and sentence will do little to ease the heartache caused by this horrible crime. But it is our hope that the family, and the community, will take some solace in knowing that Monroe will spend the rest of his life inprison," Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley said in a news release.
Monroe received the maximum sentencing on both charges.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Illinois man pleads guilty to murder of Rockford girl Destiny Huggins
