Babysitter Dismembered Lactose-Intolerant Toddler for Crying After Drinking Milk: Cops

A lactose-intolerant toddler killed last year was allegedly murdered and dismembered by his caregiver because he cried after drinking milk.

Cops in Chicago say Kamel Harris has been charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and dismembering a human body in the death of 2-year-old Kyrian Knox.

Read: 4-Month-Old Dies After Being Forgotten in Car for Hours

Harris was arrested Tuesday in connection to Kyrian's death, which occurred more than a year ago.

The boy’s dismembered remains were found in September 2015 in a park lagoon on Chicago’s West Side. His foot was found first and divers uncovered the rest of his body over the course of several days.

At a press conference Tuesday, Chicago Police Department Cmdr. Kevin Duffin said a break in the case came when blood found in a vehicle driven by Harris was matched to the child, CBS News reports.

Harris initially denied Kyrian was ever in the car after he was dropped off by his mother, authorities say. Investigators say they believe the boy was killed before Harris falsely reported the boy missing to police. Harris had been uncooperative with investigators, according to reports.

Kyrian's death has been ruled a homicide, but medical examiners were unable to determine the cause. Police said the motive for the killing was related to the boy's lactose-intolerance. 

"Based on third-party statements, the baby apparently ingested some milk," Duffin said. "The baby was lactose-intolerant and had been crying all afternoon."

Harris was already being held in a jail in Winnebago County on an unrelated charge when detectives arrested him and took him into their custody.

Read: Man Pleads Guilty to Abducting 6-Year-Old Girl From Bed, Raping Her in Family's Backyard

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the case was one of the more heartbreaking he's seen.

"Some incidents create a lasting memory," said Johnson. "Last year on Labor Day weekend, 2-year-old Kyrian Knox became one of those memories."

Watch: Mom Charged With Homicide After Her Baby Girl Was Found Dead From Salt Poisoning