A Pennsylvania man, Enrique Lopez Gomez, 30, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, among other offenses, in connection with the death of a 21-month-old boy. The toddler, who was under Gomez’s care, died from injuries allegedly inflicted by Gomez, who reportedly became frustrated with the child’s crying.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe expressed his disbelief at the incident, stating that the defendant had not only severely injured the toddler but also failed to seek medical help, leading to the child’s death. The incident occurred in Kennett Township, approximately 30 miles west of Philadelphia.
The case came to light when Chester County Detectives responded to a 911 call on the night of June 24, 2024. The call reported an unresponsive child at a residence. Upon arrival, the detectives found the child’s mother carrying the lifeless boy, who was wrapped in a blanket and had white foam coming from his nose and mouth. The child was handed over to emergency medical personnel, who noted bruising on the child’s body and alerted the police.
The toddler was pronounced dead at a hospital in the early hours of June 25. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the abdomen, ruling the death a homicide. The investigation, conducted by Chester County Detectives, Kennett Township Police Department, and Southern Chester County Police Department, concluded that Gomez had inflicted the fatal injuries on the child.
According to local reports, Gomez had been in a relationship with the child’s mother for approximately six months and was considered an “unofficial” stepfather to the toddler. The mother had left her son in Gomez’s care while she was at work. It is alleged that Gomez became angry while trying to change the child’s diaper and punched him in the stomach.
Upon her return, the mother, unaware of the incident, assumed her son was ill and took him to her sister’s house. Gomez did not disclose his actions, even as the child’s health deteriorated over several hours. District Attorney de Barrena-Sarobe emphasized that if Gomez had sought medical help immediately after the incident, the child’s life could have potentially been saved. He also noted that there was no record of previous abuse. Gomez is currently being held in Chester County Prison on a $10 million bond.