Julius Naveen Saucedo
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CANDID ID: NC_22_224
AGE
Infant
STATE
North Carolina
DATE OF DEATH
11/20/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On the evening of November 19, 2022, 23-year-old Tommy Lee Montez was home alone for the first time with his 23-day-old son Julius Naveen Saucedo and an 18-month-old child. Around 11 p.m., both children began crying. Montez told police he became frustrated and "may have been a little too forceful with the child," and during a police re-enactment using a stuffed animal, he demonstrated putting his hand around the infant's neck. The child's mother fed Julius around 1 a.m. and went to sleep around 3 a.m. When Julius did not wake for his normal 5 a.m. feeding, the mother found him unresponsive and not breathing in his bassinet. Julius was brought to Sentara Albemarle Medical Center by private vehicle at 6:50 a.m. on November 20, 2022, in cardiac arrest. Emergency room staff were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m. Hospital staff noted bruising around the child's jaw and the back of his head. The autopsy determined the cause of death was inflicted head injuries, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Montez fled to Henrico County, Virginia, where he was arrested on December 6, 2022, and subsequently extradited back to North Carolina. He was charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse with serious bodily injury.
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 documents describe inflicted injuries. The fatality report (NC_22_224.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Blunt force injuries." The Daily Advance article reports the child died of "inflicted head injuries" per the autopsy. It also describes the father's re-enactment: "Sgt. reports the father put his hand around the child's neck." Additionally, the father told police he "was frustrated and may have been a little too forceful with the child." Hospital staff also "noticed some bruising around the child's jaw and to the back of his head."

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?

The Daily Advance article states the child died of "inflicted head injuries" according to the autopsy report. Hospital staff also noted "bruising around the child's jaw and to the back of his head." The term "inflicted head injuries" is a clinical designation consistent with 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?

The Daily Advance article explicitly identifies Tommy Lee Montez as the child's biological father: "An Elizabeth City man charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his three-week-old son" and "He's charged in the death of his son, 23-day-old Julius Naveen Saucedo." The article further describes the father acknowledging he "handled the infant aggressively" and re-enacting putting his hand around the child's neck.

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)?

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 documents confirm that Tommy Lee Montez was arrested and charged. The fatality report (NC_22_224.pdf) states: "23-year-old Tommy Lee Montez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse, inflicting serious bodily injury." The WITN article from Dec 7 states: "Officers with the Henrico County Police Department in Virginia and the Elizabeth City Police Department arrested 23-year-old Tommy Lee Montez on Tuesday."

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 Daily Advance article that add important context. First, the medical examiner's report indicates it was the father's first time alone with both the 23-day-old victim and an 18-month-old sibling: "It was the first time the father had been with both children alone." Second, when police had the father re-enact his actions using a stuffed animal, the report states "the father put his hand around the child's neck." Third, after the infant's death, the father fled to Henrico County, Virginia, and had to be apprehended there approximately two weeks later. These details are relevant from a research and policy perspective, particularly regarding parental readiness and stressors associated with first-time sole caregiving responsibilities.

Lives Cut Short