A couple in Maryland faces serious charges after their two-month-old daughter died from head injuries. Oscar Pineda and Katerin Monzon-Alvarado, both 21, are accused of first and second-degree child abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment. These charges could lead to a maximum sentence of 55 years. Additional homicide charges could be added, pending an autopsy report, according to Baltimore Police.
The child, Aida Mikea Monzon Alvarado, was taken to Harbor Hospital. Medical experts noted severe bruising around her eyes and jaw. Further examination revealed significant brain trauma and multiple skull fractures. Charging documents stated the injuries were not obvious during the initial check.
During investigations, the father reportedly told police that a ‘supernatural force’ or ‘Satan slamming a door’ caused the child’s injuries. The mother attributed the injuries to a fall caused by her 2-year-old son jumping on the bed, leading to the baby landing on the floor. However, a prosecutor argued that the extensive injuries couldn’t result from a single fall from the bed.
The mother brought the infant to the hospital after she became unresponsive. She initially told police the child was unresponsive while lying face down on their bed after feeding. Medical professionals described her condition as ‘suspicious’ noting ‘significant head and brain trauma,’ along with hemorrhaging in the frontal lobe and a subdural hemorrhage. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful, and she died in the hospital.
Both parents later admitted they noticed the child’s bruises on September 6, and she began vomiting the next day. They delayed seeking medical help until the child was unresponsive. The parents, Guatemalan nationals, are considered a flight risk by prosecutors. They are both held without bail.