CLAY COUNTY — A January 27 jury trial has been confirmed for a 24-year-old Clay City man accused of first-degree murder in the alleged battery death of a 2-year-old child.

Alexander J. Beal is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child. Beal was arrested in 2018, after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded April 22, 2018, with a Clay County Hospital Ambulance to a medical call for a 2-year-old child in Clay City.

At the scene, deputies began to investigate the events leading up to the medial call and requested assistance from the Child Death Investigative Task Force.

As the agencies continued their investigation into the matter they were notified on April 24 that the child had succumbed to the injuries and had passed away.

The Child Death Investigative Task Force is made up of personnel from several law enforcement agencies specializing in the investigation of child deaths.

Agencies assisting in this investigation include Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, Flora Police.

Beal has remained in the Clay County Jail since his arrest with bail set at $1 million. He’ll next appear in court January 6, 2020, for a final pretrial hearing leading up to his trial.