Houston, Texas (KTRK) – A father and mother were charged nearly six months after their two-month-old son died in their home on the south side of Houston.
Lionel Guerrero, 33, and Yalitza Macías, 27, are charged with child injury – grievous bodily injury in the death of their son, Roman Guerrero.
According to Houston police, paramedics took the baby from the couple’s home on the 6500 block of Beekman Road to Texas Children’s Hospital around 8:30 a.m. on October 2, 2022. At the hospital, doctors pronounced Roman dead.
Guerrero and Macías reportedly told officials that Guerrero slept with the baby on his chest, and when he woke up, he noticed the baby was face down and not breathing.
However, the autopsy concluded that the boy had numerous internal injuries, as well as evidence of previously healed injuries.
According to shipping documents, the child had an incompletely healed skull fracture, two possible brain hemorrhages, multiple rib fractures, fresh rib fractures, two incompletely healed liver lacerations, and blood in the abdominal cavity.
A physician determined that the injuries were consistent with non-accidental trauma that occurred in the days and weeks prior to the child’s death.
In February 2023, the boy’s death was ruled a homicide, with the cause of death listed as “blunt, blunt force injuries”.
An investigation revealed that the parents were the child’s primary caregivers, according to the police.
On 28 March they were charged, and on 30 March the police said they were arrested without incident.
Macías appeared in court Thursday night and a judge set her bail at $100,000. At last examination, Guerrero was still awaiting his court debut.
Long history with family protection officials
Family members didn’t want to open the door when ABC13 visited Guerreo and Macias’ home Friday afternoon, but court records confirm that extended family members live there.
There is a playground outside the house, which is usually where the young boys of the couple run around. We did not see such a scene on Friday.
The visit comes as Eyewitness News has learned that the couple has a long history with the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS).
According to a troubling DFPS child death report, obtained by ABC13, Macias and Guerrero have been linked to child abuse investigations.
In 2016, a 4-month-old boy was removed from their home after he sustained injuries similar to Roman’s. This child was placed with a grandmother. At that time, the couple had no other children. Officials said Guerrero and Macías made false statements about the four-month-old’s injury in the case.
In 2018, the couple was investigated for child abuse involving another of their children. This child has not been removed.
By 2022, the couple has three children, including Roman, who live with them. On October 2, 2022, Roman dies. Then his brothers were removed two days later.
In total, four young boys in the span of seven years. Both parents are still behind bars.
DFPS reminds everyone that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. You may report cases of abuse to the Texas Abuse Hotline by either calling 1-800-252-5400, or Connected.
For news updates, follow Miya Shay on FacebookAnd Twitter And Instagram.
https://abc13.com/houston-parents-charged-in-babys-death-childs-ruled-a-homicide-2-month-old-dies-at-hospital-injury-to-child/13058104/
