HAGERSTOWN, MD- A nine-year-old boy is dead after police say he was handcuffed and beaten for eating cake.
According to court documents obtained by WHAG, EMS crews were called because the boy was having trouble breathing. His mother declined medical treatment, saying the boy was just congested. Four hours later and an ambulance came back because the boy was unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital with injuries consistent with abuse.
Detectives say the boy, Jack, was severely beaten by his mother’s boyfriend 31-year-old Robert Leroy Wilson after eating a piece of cake without permission. The boy’s mother Oriana Garcia, 26, was at work, but according to court documents the boy’s uncle stepped in to help after the punishment was too severe and called for help.
Wilson has been charged with child abuse, first and second degree assault, and reckless endangerment.
Police are investigating multiple injuries some fresh, some healing found by medics. Sources tell WJLA, there was evidence of ongoing abuse which likely included a lack of food.
The mother reportedly told police they used handcuffs because the child took things.
Cpt. Paul Kifer, Hagerstown Police Department says, “We’re reviewing all that information, we’re conversing with the State’s Attorney’s office, and if there are charges to be brought against the mother or anyone else in that household that knew or should have known, or did something, rest assure we will be seeking those charges.”
On Friday the boy was in critical condition and a prosecutor told the judge the boy was not expected to survive, and that the investigation is open and ongoing.
The judge upped Wilson’s bond to $1 million.