On July 25, 2022, 5-year-old Mason Reyes was found unconscious in a bathtub at his father Darwin Reyes' East Hollywood apartment in Los Angeles after a call to police at approximately 2:20 p.m. reported an unconscious child not breathing. Officers found blood and vomit in the bedroom and bathroom and attempted to render aid before paramedics transported the boy to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The LA County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxia due to manual obstruction of the airways and neck compression, and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Darwin Reyes, 32, was arrested that evening and subsequently charged with murder and assault on a child. The child's mother, Sogui Godinez, who had lost custody due to a history of alcohol and drug abuse, reported that she had called 911 the day before after hearing Reyes beat Mason over the phone, but responding officers found no injuries. She stated she had reported the father's violent behavior toward their son numerous times over several years to police, social workers, and family courts without effective intervention.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple sources describe inflicted injuries. The KTLA article states the father "would hurt Mason" and the mother heard "him beating my child over the phone." The child came to a visit "with his fingers burned." The LA County Medical Examiner report lists the cause of death as "ASPHYXIA" due to "MANUAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE AIRWAYS AND NECK COMPRESSION," which constitutes choking/strangulation. The KTLA article also notes the DA's office says "Mason had injuries on his face." The LA Times reports officers "noticed blood and vomit in the bedroom and bathroom."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The KTLA article describes a pattern of abuse over an extended period. The mother states she "reported the father's violent behavior towards her and their son numerous times over the last several years." She also reports: "He came to a visit one time with his fingers burned," indicating deliberate cruelty (burning) beyond typical physical abuse. The repeated beatings over years combined with burning injuries suggest a sustained pattern of intentional cruelty.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Darwin Reyes is explicitly identified as Mason's father across all sources. The KTLA article states "The boy's father, Darwin Reyes, has been charged with murder and assault on a child in connection with the death." The medical examiner report rules the manner of death as homicide.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The KTLA article states that the mother "reported the father's violent behavior towards her and their son numerous times over the last several years." She also describes speaking to a social worker: "I spoke to one of the social workers. He came to a visit one time with his fingers burned." Additionally, the day before Mason's death, she "called 911 and reported that I had heard him beating my child over the phone." Police responded but found no injuries. These multiple reports indicate a documented history of child protection reports prior to the child's death.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Multiple sources confirm that Darwin Reyes was arrested and charged. The KTLA article states: "The boy's father, Darwin Reyes, has been charged with murder and assault on a child in connection with the death." The LA Times reports: "Darwin Reyes, 32, was arrested about 11 p.m. Monday and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on suspicion of child abuse." The ABC7 article confirms he was "taken into custody by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division-Abused Child Section."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KTLA article describes domestic violence by the father: "At times, Darwin Reyes would strike her and choke her, and he would hurt Mason, she said." The mother also reported "the father's violent behavior towards her and their son numerous times over the last several years."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KTLA article explicitly states: "Godinez has battled alcohol and drug abuse in the past." This references substance use by the mother/caregiver.
Notable Details
The KTLA article describes significant systemic failures. The mother reported abuse "numerous times over the last several years" to police, social workers, and family courts, but the father retained full custody. Critically, the day before Mason's death, the mother called 911 after hearing the father beating Mason over the phone — "Mason was like pleading, begging, 'No Papi! No Papi!'" — yet police responded and "determined that despite the reports of abuse, no injuries were found." The child was dead hours later. The mother states: "LAPD failed him. The department failed him." She also believes her "troubled background" (history of alcohol and drug abuse) "may be a reason her cries for help were ignored." The court had given the father full custody despite the mother's reports of violence, representing a potential failure of the family court system. These details illustrate a pattern of systemic failures across law enforcement, child protective services, and family courts that preceded and arguably enabled the child's death.
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