The baby wasn’t even given the chance to live more than just a few weeks before he died and his own father is accused in his death. Michael George reports.
What to Know
- A one-month-old baby boy died after being taken from his Bronx apartment Monday night with head trauma, police say
- The baby's 24-year-old father has been arrested in connection with the boy's death; he smirked as he was led out of a police precinct
- Prosecutors say the father admitted to throwing the baby to the floor face-first out of frustration
The father of a 1-month-old boy who died after he was found with head trauma in his apartment admitted he threw him to the floor face-first out of frustration, prosecutors say — and the baby's death has been ruled a homicide.
Christian Rodriguez, 24, was arrested Tuesday after emergency responders found his son, Aiden Rodriguez, in serious condition at their apartment on East 137th Street in the Bronx Monday night.
Aiden was taken to Lincoln Hospital, but his injuries were so severe he was transported to the trauma unit at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Medical Examiner on Wednesday ruled Aiden's death a homicide caused by "abusive head trauma."
At Rodriguez’ arraignment Wednesday, prosecutors said Aiden suffered a fractured skull, hemorrhaging and bruising on his head, among other injuries.
Rodriguez showed little to no emotion as the District Attorney told the judge he admitted to throwing Aiden, who was only 38 days old.
Local
Prosecutors say Rodriguez has a criminal record. In 2015, he was accused of throwing his then-3-month-old girl, who survived but suffered two black eyes.
He pleaded that charge down to harassment after agreeing to counseling and taking a parenting class, according to prosecutors.
Rodriguez smirked as he was led out of a police precinct Tuesday night, but declined to say anything to reporters. Aiden’s mother left the police station yesterday in tears.
Rodriguez has been charged with assault causing injury through risk of death, reckless assault of a child involving a brain injury, assault causing injury to a person less than 11 years old and assault causing injury to a person less than 7 years old, according to police.
Those charges were expected to be upgraded if the Medical Examiner determined Aiden’s death was a homicide, but police didn't immediately provide an update Wednesday evening.
Rodriguez' attorney information wasn't immediately available.
Another child who was in the home was taken into the custody of the Administration for Children's Services. Details on that child weren't clear.
"Our top priority is protecting the safety and well-being of all children in New York City," ACS said in a statement. "We are investigating this case and we have taken action to secure the safety of the other child in this home."
