A Stockton man was charged with the child-abuse death of his 7-year-old daughter, who was found in the garage of the Central Valley home, authorities said.
Billy Dee Williams, 30, was arrested Saturday after officers were sent to check on the child's welfare at a home on Candlewood Way, police said.
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Family and friends identified her as Billie Williams.
Five other children at the home were taken into protective custody, police said.
There was no immediate word on the exact cause of the girl's death but a police statement said investigators believe she had been severely abused.
Williams has been charged with one count of torture and six counts of felony child abuse, one of which includes an allegation of great bodily injury, the San Joaquin County district attorney's office said.
He remained jailed and it wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
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The girl's stepmother was home when police arrived. She and the girl's stepmother were cooperating with the investigation, authorities said.
