A 30-year-old man in Pennsylvania is accused of the murder of a 21-month-old boy under his care.
The heartbreaking event reportedly occurred due to the man's frustration with his girlfriend's child, who wouldn't stop crying.
In a fit of anger, he is said to have punched the toddler in the stomach with fatal force.
Enrique Lopez Gomez was arrested on Thursday and now faces charges including third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, among other related offenses, according to authorities.
"This defendant brutally harmed a toddler entrusted to his care, neglected to seek medical help, and ultimately caused the child's death. It's hard to comprehend such an act," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe stated on Thursday.
The Chester County Detectives responded to a distressing 911 call on June 24, 2024, at 10:58 p.m., reporting an unresponsive child at a residence on Cope Road in Kennett Township, about 30 miles from Philadelphia.
Upon arrival, the victim’s mother came out from the home, cradling her son wrapped in a blanket.
She handed him over to emergency medical personnel.
The boy had white foam coming from his nose and mouth and was unresponsive with no pulse.
Medics quickly noticed bruising on his body and alerted the police.
The toddler was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:16 a.m. on June 25.
The autopsy revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the abdomen, confirming the manner of death as homicide.
"The investigation conducted by the Chester County Detectives, Kennett Township Police Department, and Southern Chester County Police Department concluded that the defendant's actions led to the child's fatal injuries," prosecutors stated.
Reports detailed that Gomez had been dating the boy’s mother for about six months and had taken on an unofficial stepfather role.
On the day of the incident, the mother had left for work, leaving her son in Gomez’s care.
Gomez, while attempting to change the boy’s diaper, reportedly became enraged when the child wouldn't stop crying.
In his frustration, he punched the child in the stomach and then put him down for a nap.
When the mother returned home, she believed the boy was merely ill and took him to her sister’s house.
Gomez did not disclose the assault, despite the child's health deteriorating over several hours.
"Mr. Gomez struck that child in the abdomen at least once, causing significant injuries, and failed to get medical care," de Barrena-Sarobe said during a news conference.
"This case is both straightforward and deeply disturbing."
de Barrena-Sarobe emphasized that had Gomez informed anyone about the incident, the toddler might have had a significantly better chance of survival.
He also noted that there were no prior signs of abuse.
Gomez is currently being held in Chester County Prison on a $10 million bond.
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