A 21-Year-Old man was arrested on capital murder charges in the death of a three-month-old baby.
Edward Alex Martinez-Torres was arrested on Thursday, June 16 on capital murder.
Bethel Heights Police Department responded to a residence on Kings Drive on June 9 after receiving a call about a three-month-old baby not breathing, according to the report.
The child was taken to a local hospital and then transported to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock where it was discovered the child had a skull fracture.
Martinez-Torres, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was interviewed after a criminal investigation was launched.
According to the report, Martinez-Torres initially said he and the child laid down for a nap and his hand may have accidentally fell on the child’s head.
The child died on June 15.
On Thursday, June 16, detectives interview Martinez-Torres a second time.
During the second interview, Martinez-Torres admitted he was watching the child while the mother was grocery shopping.
Martinez-Torres told detectives the child was crying and he was frustrated. Martinez-Torres said he slapped the three-month-old on the face and then placed is hand on the baby’s forehead with his palm and pushed his head downward on the mattress.
Martinez-Torres placed the baby in the bassinet. The mother returned and told Martinez-Torres to check on the baby. The baby was not breathing. Martinez-Torres said he attempted CPR until medical crews arrived.
Martinez-Torres was subsequently arrested on capital murder. He is currently at the Benton County Jail with no bond.
