A Louisiana man allegedly confessed to the brutal murder of his toddler Tuesday morning, telling police that “God made him do it.”

According to New Orleans Police Supt. Michael Harrison, police received a call from the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mark Hambrick, from his Bywater residence in which he admitted to stabbing and suffocating his 18-month-old daughter the previous night.

When officers arrived, Harrison said they found Hambrick waiting outside the home as he said he would be. Inside, they likewise found the unresponsive child where the suspect told them she would be, the Times-Picayune reported.

“The apparent murder weapon as described by Mr. Hambrick was also in close proximity,” he said.

Police say the father, who is reportedly married to the victim’s mother, was home alone with the child while his wife was out of town.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this mother and the rest of this family,” Harrison said during a media briefing Tuesday.

After his arrest, he said the suspect was interviewed and provided several key details “of how he committed this heinous, gruesome act to his own child.”

The Advocate reported that Hambrick had been working for the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board for the past year.

Though many questions remain unanswered at this early point in the investigation, Harrison said Hambrick gave what could have been a glimpse into his motive.

“Simply put, he told us over the phone that God made him do it,” he said.

Additionally, Hambrick “claimed he did not” have a mental illness, Harrison said, adding “that is a medical diagnosis for a doctor.”

Harrison said he could not provide any information regarding whether the suspect was believed to have been using drugs or the status of his marriage.

According to Fox News, Hambrick faces charges of second-degree homicide and second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

[Featured image: Twitter/@theadvocateno]