Jonathan Enriquez Arrested; – A tragic incident occurred when a baby lost her life after her father struck her for “crying excessively,” as reported by the police.
On Wednesday, Mesa Police apprehended 22-year-old Jonathan Enriquez, who faces charges of first-degree murder and felony child abuse.
Court documents indicate that authorities were alerted to a baby who was not breathing on July 11. Upon arrival, officers found the baby unresponsive and she was immediately transported to the hospital in critical condition.
At the location, police observed discrepancies in the accounts provided by both parents. They asserted that the baby had fallen from the bed, while Enriquez confessed to being “quite forceful” during a diaper change, stating that she would hit herself in the face. He acknowledged feeling “frustration” but denied physically striking the child.
Initially, investigators were informed that the baby had choked while being fed a bottle. Enriquez subsequently presented two additional narratives to the authorities, first alleging that the baby had fallen from a car seat into a stroller, striking her head at least once. He later claimed that the baby was struck by a seat buckle, resulting in bruising around her eyes.
Further investigation revealed that Enriquez had sent a text to the mother, who had gone to work, urging her to return home immediately, stating that the baby was not breathing and that he had “messed up.”
Medical professionals at the hospital observed that the baby had sustained a fractured skull, brain bleeding, and bruising around her eyes, in addition to a broken leg and rib bones, as detailed in the arrest documents. She remained hospitalized for 15 days before passing away on July 26.
Court records indicated that an autopsy uncovered injuries consistent with “slamming, crushing, or stomping,” with many of these injuries classified as “catastrophic.”
On Wednesday, Mesa Police conducted another interview with Enriquez, during which he reportedly confessed to punching the baby on the left side of her head because she had been “crying too much” while in her bassinette. During this interrogation, he allegedly also admitted to tightly swaddling her to manage her crying.
Enriquez expressed “deep remorse” for his actions and said he was ashamed of himself, according to court documents.
He is being held on a $1 million bond.
