Colona man found guilty of murder in toddler's death

Rahsaan M. Strawder, 41, from Colona, was convicted of murdering 14-month-old D.G. from Moline after a two-day bench trial presided over by Judge Daniel Dalton in Henry County circuit court. In addition to the murder charge, he was also found guilty of aggravated battery of a child under 13. Sentencing is scheduled for June 10, with the murder charge potentially carrying a sentence of 20 to 60 years; Strawder has been warned he might face an extended term of up to natural life.

The tragic events unfolded on January 26, 2022, when D.G.'s mother, Darcie Morning, stayed overnight at Strawder's home with her three daughters. On the morning of January 27, 2022, Morning left D.G. alone with Strawder for about 30 minutes while she took her older daughters to school. Testimony indicated that both Strawder and D.G. were asleep when Morning departed.

Key testimony against Strawder came from a former cellmate, William Borsch, who recounted conversations in which Strawder reportedly described how he reacted to D.G.'s cries. According to Borsch, Strawder admitted to striking the toddler with a pillow, covering her face, and shaking her violently. The judge highlighted the specific details of this testimony, which aligned with forensic findings, leading him to reject any argument that D.G. was injured before being left alone with Strawder.

Judge Dalton noted that while prison testimony is often questionable, Borsch's account was detailed and appeared credible. He expressed doubt about the notion that Morning could have returned and harmed D.G. after the brief absence, given her hurried actions in seeking medical help for the child. The judge concluded that there was no reasonable doubt regarding Strawder’s guilt in the murder.

Following the verdict, D.G.'s father, Doviono Gray, expressed his desire for justice, suggesting that Morning should also face charges for her role in the incident. Conversely, Strawder's brother, Brandon Daniels, claimed that the trial did not reflect true justice, criticizing the reliance on Borsch's testimony and questioning the integrity of the evidence presented throughout the judicial process.