BLOOMINGTON - A 21-year-old man accused of killing his 15-month-old son allegedly told authorities he only struck the boy to discipline him for hitting his 3-year-old sister.

George Autman

George Autman, of the 400 block of Fox Hill Circle, was formally charged Thursday with the murder of Antwan Liddell, who was pronounced dead from head injuries at a Peoria hospital Tuesday night. Autman was held Thursday in lieu of $100,000.

The boy's mother was at work and Autman was the sole caretaker of the boy and at least one other sibling Tuesday afternoon at their apartment in the 400 block of Fox Hill Circle, Assistant State's Attorney Suzanne Geller said in court Thursday. The boy was taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center after a 911 call about 12:25 p.m., at which time authorities were told the boy was choking.

At 3 p.m., the infant was transferred to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria with life-threatening injuries, authorities have said. He died during surgery at 8:15 p.m.

Geller said Autman initially told police the boy was eating a sandwich when he fell and began choking. But doc-tors told officers said the injuries were not consistent with such a fall, she said.

An autopsy revealed the boy had bruises to his head and body, and he died of blunt-head trauma, Geller said.

Liddell's 3-year-old sister told police Autman gave the boy a "whoopin," and Autman later told police he struck the boy to discipline him for hitting his sister in the face, the prosecutor said. He told officers he was trying to teach his kids not to fight with each other, she said.

Autman is scheduled for an arraignment at 10:30 a.m. June 13. He also faces two pending domestic battery charges from McLean and Kankakee counties.

Sharon K. Wolfe contributed to this report.