A 28-year-old Dodge City man has been arrested in the 2008 death of his girlfriend’s daughter.

The Dodge City Globe reports that Brock W. Cunningham was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of 3-year-old Natalie Pickle. The child was severely injured in Dodge City on Nov. 19, 2008, and died the next day at a Wichita hospital.

The case has remained open since authorities ruled the child’s death a homicide in 2008.

Dan Monnat, Cunningham’s lawyer, said Friday that Cunningham is innocent of the charges and “had nothing to do with causing her death.” He says Cunningham tried to save the child’s life that night and has cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation.

Cunningham was released on $75,000 bond Thursday.