ME: Bronx Father Killed 8-Month-Old Baby

The police arrested a man for abusing his 8-month-old son to death. The medical examiner's office says that baby Elijah Rodriguez had "blunt trauma to the abdomen" (the Daily News says there were "fist-shaped bruises" there), attributing his death to "fatal child-abuse syndrome." His 21-year-old father, John Rodriguez, was charged with murder and manslaughter; he and the baby's mother Wanda Rosado, who were living at a Bronx shelter for homeless families, were already being monitored because Elijah had a broken arm in the summer. Rosado apparently "rushed" at Rodriguez when he was being led from the stationhouse. She told the Post, "I wanted to kill him. He will suffer for this."

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By Jen Chung in News on October 16, 2008 8:35 AM

Comments [rss]

MrCow

lol 15

Spirit of 76

He needs to claim it was self-defense. The vicious baby was attacking him and knocked him on his ass. Hey, that kind of defense kept Joe Petcka out of prison, right? At least for now.

Steven

The mother and father should both be infertile.

dreamking

I think this clearly should be murder or at very least 1st-degree manslaughter. (Is there an aggravated manslaughter?) The only thing fellow violent prisoners can bond around stronger than child-murderers is child-rapists.

We live in a truly screwed-up world.

That said, the label "fatal child-abuse syndrome" is a useful one. In this case it's painfully obvious what was the particular event and cause of the child's death. In many cases, the circumstances and evidence can be much more subtle - especially when you're talking about a child's actual parents.

JRod5417

What goes through one's mind when you punch an 8 month old baby? Truly evil behavior.

peanuthead

right on, mrmagoo!!

mrmagoo

this is terrible! if you didnt want a kid keep your dick in your pants or wear a fu*king condom.

r1b2

Agreed, #7. This was outright abuse, outright murder. Hangin's too good for him, burnin's too good for him...

Splicer

I think it might not be a bad idea to make psychological testing a required before people are given a license allowing them to have children.

jink

is it just me, or does "fatal child-abuse syndrome" sound like something created to remove some of the blame from the abusers? when was this "syndrome" discovered?

Amanda Harletsch

Stupid people should not procreate

PERIOD

whitecastlerock

#2 you are right on target...

Think2wice

Just horrible.

Wza

DISGUSTING!

babyhitler

You ever ask yourself what kind of parents raise their children to be in gangs and wilding out on those columbia students? well, meet exhibit A