27-year-old appears before judge for death of girlfriend's daughter

LANCASTER, S.C. — Eyewitness News was there Wednesday morning as 27-year-old Phillip Bryan Gleason appeared before a judge for the first time.

Gleason is charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of his girlfriend's daughter, 5-year-old Soren Chilson.

The arrest warrant obtained by Channel 9 says that Gleason struck the little girl in the head, and she died from blunt force trauma.

Deputies said Gleason was watching the girl Monday night at their home on Craig farm road while her mother was at work.

At some point after midnight he called 911. Five-year-old Chilson was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of the house.

Channel 9 requested the 911 call Wednesday, but that request was denied.

Sheriff Barry Faile said Wednesday that the investigation is far from over. "We're talking to as many people as we can," Faile said.

"Talking to the mother, and other people in the community."

Channel 9 asked Sheriff Faile if there were any signs of sexual abuse, or prior physical abuse on the child.

He wouldn't comment, but did say more should be learned from pending autopsy results.

Coroner Mike Morris said it could take three to four weeks for those results to come back. Pathologists must study X-rays and conduct other tests before releasing a final report.

Deputies told Channel 9 the couple had no history domestic violence, or child abuse, and they weren't aware of previous calls to the house.

They believe Gleason had been in a relationship with the child's mother for only about six months. A check of Gleason's criminal record found only a few traffic offenses from York County and nothing in criminal court.

Gleason could spend 20 years to life in prison if he's convicted. The sheriff said the whole ordeal is saddening.

"I just don't know what someone would be thinking, to hurt a kid," he said.

Reached on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. Trent McLaughlin, who will lead the memorial service for Chilson, said her family had asked him not to comment.

Soren Chilson will be laid to rest Friday afternoon at Antioch Baptist church.

Read more on the story here.

WSOC