In a shocking case in Illinois, a father has been charged with the murder of his 2-month-old son. Authorities report that he placed the deceased infant in a covered stroller, and a family member then handed the child to the boy’s mother, misleadingly saying the baby was asleep.

“I wasn’t suspicious because it was raining, so I quickly brought my baby inside to avoid him catching a cold,” Kayla Flowers recounted to reporters in May, describing the heart-wrenching moment she realized her son, Kayson Flowers, had passed away on April 28.

“Upon entering the house, I removed the cover from the stroller,” Kayla Flowers shared with local ABC affiliate WLS. “I found my baby lifeless.”

According to the police, 23-year-old Anthony Evans had a relative pass the baby, Kayson, to Kayla Flowers in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood after committing the crime. Investigators revealed the infant had been deceased for six to eight hours and was found with bruises on his arms and legs.

Distraught, Kayla Flowers called her pastor, Joe Huizenga, exclaiming, “My baby’s dead, they killed my baby!” as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

“He’s black and blue,” she said, according to Huizenga.

Kayson was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead, with authorities and doctors reporting signs of child abuse. His death was ruled a homicide and Kayla Flowers offered a reward for information leading to an arrest with help from Huizenga’s church, Roseland Christian Ministries.

“He never got the chance to say his first words, take his first steps, or celebrate his first birthday,” Kayla and Roseland Christian Ministries reportedly said in a joint statement in May. “He was a really, really beautiful baby,” Huizenga told WLS. “He had chubby little cheeks [and] a beautiful skin tone.”

Huizenga added, “It’s just absolutely horrific.”

Kayla Flowers told police that Kayson was allegedly staying with Evans and a family member for roughly a week when she went to pick the boy up on April 28. Evans was not at the relative’s home when Kayla picked Kayson up, according to police.

Evans was arrested on Monday in the 4700 block of South Champlain Avenue, according to a Chicago Police Department press release. He has been charged with murder.

“Me and my son finally got our justice,” Kayla Flowers wrote on Facebook Wednesday.

“No words can explain how grateful I am,” she said. “This means so much to me. My son didn’t get a chance to grow up with his family due to his father (Anthony Evans) taking my son’s life.”