On the evening of May 4, 2023, a 2-year-old boy was left in the care of his mother's boyfriend, Charles A. Acosta, 25, at a residence on the 600 block of Schuylkill Avenue in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Between 9 p.m. on May 4 and the early morning hours of May 5, Acosta inflicted severe physical injuries on the child, including a ruptured stomach, abdominal bruising and swelling, a swollen scrotum, and head trauma. Acosta called the child's mother to return home due to the child's medical distress. The mother found the child in extreme distress and rushed him to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bern Township, from which he was airlifted to Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was determined to be multiple traumatic injuries and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Acosta admitted to hitting the child. He was charged in July 2023 after being apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and was convicted of first-degree murder on April 30, 2025. The family had no prior child welfare involvement, and two other children in the home were placed in foster care following the incident.
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)
The fatality report states that "the mother's paramour admitted to hitting the victim child." Additionally, the NBC Philadelphia article (document 2) states "Acosta intentionally or recklessly caused bodily harm to the boy, causing his death." The child suffered severe internal injuries including a ruptured stomach, abdominal bruising, and swollen scrotum — all consistent with inflicted blunt force trauma.
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?
Multiple news articles report that the autopsy revealed the child suffered "head trauma" as part of the injuries inflicted upon him. The Fox 43 article states the autopsy revealed "severe internal injuries, as well as head trauma," and the NBC Philadelphia article similarly notes "several internal injuries and head trauma." Since the death was ruled a homicide resulting from physical abuse by Acosta, the head trauma was inflicted and constitutes abusive head trauma, though the specific term "abusive head trauma" or "shaken baby" is not used.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
While Acosta's primary relationship to the child was as the mother's paramour (Q119), he was also functioning in a babysitting capacity at the time of the incident. The NBC Philadelphia conviction article (document 5) explicitly states "a 2-year-old child that he was babysitting died." The Fox 29 article states "Acosta was dating the child's mother and had been asked to watch the young toddler and his siblings." The NBC Philadelphia arrest article states Acosta "was watching him and his siblings." He was not a professional babysitter but was performing that role at the time.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly names "the victim child's mother's paramour as the perpetrator." Multiple news articles identify Charles A. Acosta as the mother's boyfriend: the Fox 29 article states "Acosta was dating the child's mother" and the NBC Philadelphia article says Acosta "was in a relationship with the boy's mother."
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)?
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?
Charles A. Acosta was charged and arrested for the child's death. The Fox 43 article states: "Charles A. Acosta, 25, is charged with homicide, multiple counts of aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children." He was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. The NBC Philadelphia conviction article (document 5) confirms he was "found guilty by a jury on Wednesday, April 30" of first degree murder.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
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?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the NBC Philadelphia conviction article (document 5) reports that Acosta was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury on April 30, 2025, with sentencing scheduled for June 13, 2025. Second, Acosta had to be apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia after charges were filed, as noted by the Fox 43 article: "He was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia Thursday morning and extradited to Berks County to face the charges." Third, there are discrepancies in the specific murder charges across documents — the NBC Philadelphia arrest article lists "murder of the first and second degree" while the Fox 29 article lists "Murder of the First Degree, Murder of the Third Degree." Fourth, the fatality report notes that following the incident, "the two other children in the home at the time of the incident were placed in foster care and services were provided," indicating siblings were also affected.
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