On December 4, 2012, Todd Perez abused a 3-month-old boy at a residence on Siesta Lane in Kissimmee, Osceola County, Florida, causing injuries severe enough to require surgery. Perez was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to prison in February 2014. As the child grew older, he developed extensive medical complications stemming from the abuse, including cerebral palsy, muscle atrophy, being nonverbal, cortically blind, unable to swallow (requiring a feeding tube), a seizure disorder, acute bronchopneumonia, and quadriplegia. The child died on April 26, 2023, at the age of 10. The 10th Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide, and Perez was subsequently arrested and charged with murder during the commission of a felony (aggravated child abuse).
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 news article states that "Perez abused a 3-month-old child to the point that the boy required surgery for his injuries." While the specific mechanism of injury (e.g., punched, shaken) is not described, the abuse of an infant causing injuries severe enough to require surgery and resulting in quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, cortical blindness, and seizure disorder strongly implies inflicted physical injury.
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)?
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?
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)
The news article states the child was "nonverbal" and "cortically blind," both of which are neurological developmental disabilities. Additionally, the child had "cerebral palsy" and "a seizure disorder," which are neurological conditions.
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
The news article explicitly describes multiple physical disabilities: "cerebral palsy and muscle atrophy," being "unable to swallow, requiring a feeding tube," and "being rendered quadriplegic."
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 news article describes the sheriff's office response on December 4, 2012, to an abuse incident involving the child at 3 months old. Perez was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to prison in February 2014. This constitutes a history of child protection involvement prior to the child's death in April 2023.
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?
The news article states that "Members of the sheriff's offices' Homicide Unit and the U.S. Marshals Office arrested Todd Perez, 32, while executing a warrant alleging murder during the commission of a felony."
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?
The news article states that "Perez pleaded no contest to a charge of child abuse and was sentenced to prison in February 2014." This conviction predates the current murder charge arising from the child's death in April 2023 and constitutes prior criminal history separate from the current fatal incident charge.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article describes a notable aspect of this case: the child was abused at 3 months old in December 2012, and did not die until April 26, 2023, more than 10 years later. Despite this substantial time gap, the 10th Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide, linking the child's death to complications from the original abuse. The charge is "murder during the commission of a felony, the felony being that of aggravated child abuse," which is a significant legal proceeding given the decade-long interval between the initial abuse and the resulting death.
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