Uncle Arrested for Child Abuse, Murder of Toddler - Other Family ...

On Friday, Manuel Antonio Gonzales told authorities that his 21-month-old nephew had drowned while playing with a garden hose. However, when doctors examined Xavier Becerra Martinez, they found injuries consistent with child abuse on the boy?s body, CBS 5 reports.

Martinez later died at the hospital. Now Gonzales is facing child abuse and first-degree murder charges in his nephew?s death.

Xavier and two other children were in Gonzales? care on Friday when the incident occurred. According to authorities, Gonzales rushed over to a neighbor?s house, carrying Xavier and asking for help. Gaby Ramos, the neighbor, called 911.

?He was crying,? Ramos told CBS 5. ?He was like he didn?t know what to do and he had the baby in his hands and like he fell down. He didn?t fall down, but he went down on his knees and he was telling the firefighters to help him.?

When authorities arrived, Gonzales told them that Xavier had been playing outside with a hose and had drowned in a puddle. However, the boy?s injuries told a different story. The doctors told police that the injuries were consistent with child abuse, according to authorities.

Police searched Gonzales home and found wet clothing covered in mud and vomit on the washing machine, and a bloody towel in Gonzales? bedroom. When asked about the items, Gonzales told authorities he had no idea where the items came from.

Gonzales was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and child abuse. Any parent, guardian, or caretaker who injures or neglects a child to the point that the child?s health is endangered is guilty of child abuse in Arizona. If the abuse is intentional, as opposed to reckless or negligent, it?s a class 2 felony.

Beating a child, as is alleged in Gonzales? case, is considered intentional abuse. If convicted on the child abuse charge alone, Gonzales could spend anywhere from 10 to 24 years in prison.

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Source: http://phoenixfamilylawnews.com/2012/10/uncle-arrested-for-child-abuse-murder-of-toddler.html

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