KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — A Chester County man has been charged with murder and other offenses relating to the death of a 21-month-old child Monday night, the county's district attorney said Thursday.
Enrique Lopez Gomez, 20, of West Grove, is charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and other related offenses, according to District Attorney Christoper de Barrena-Sarobe.
Gomez allegedly struck the child, causing the injuries that led to its death, de Barrena-Sarobe said.
"This defendant brutally injured a toddler under his care, failed to get the child medical care, and caused his death," de Barrena-Sarobe said. "It's difficult to fathom how someone could do this."
According to investigators, authorities received a 911 call at about 10:58 p.m. Monday reporting an unresponsive child on the 600 block of Cope Road in Kennett Township. Responding EMS personnel met the child's mother, who was carrying his body in a blanket. The child had no pulse and had white foam coming from his nose and mouth, authorities said.
Once the child was in the ambulance, EMS observed bruising on his body and alerted police.
The child was transported to a local hospital, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, de Barrena-Sarobe said. He was pronounced dead at 12:16 a.m. on Tuesday.
An autopsy determined the child died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen. A joint investigation by Chester County Detectives, Kennett Township Police, and Southern Chester County Police determined Gomez struck the child, causing his fatal injuries.
Gomez was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Matthew Seavey, who set bail at $10 million.
