Yeniffer Tavarez-Cepeda and Kevin Canaan charged with inflicting ‘multiple traumatic injuries,’ on newborn baby son in Pennsylvania hospital maternity room leading to baby boy’s death.
The parents of a newborn baby boy are accused of inflicting ‘multiple traumatic injuries,’ leading to the infant’s death at a Pennsylvania hospital earlier this month.
Kevin Canaan, 28, of Reading, Pa., and Yeniffer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, of New York City, were both charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children on Tuesday, May 19 according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
On Saturday, May 2, West Reading Police responded to a call for suspected child abuse at Tower Health Reading Hospital. Officers learned that a seemingly healthy newborn baby boy was in medical distress inside a private patient recovery room.
Newborn’s injuries were not from birthing process and consistent with physical abuse
The infant was flown to Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania, for advanced neonatal care, but died the following day, on Sunday, May 3.
Medical staff advised investigators that the baby’s injuries were not from the birthing process and alleged that they were consistent with physical abuse.
The newborn’s death according to an autopsy was the result of ‘multiple traumatic injuries.’ His death was ruled a homicide.
Couple failed to notify hospital staff upon observing newborn to be in medical distress
At the time the injuries were inflicted, the baby was in the care of Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda in the hospital room, investigators stated according to People.
Investigators concluded that the injuries were inflicted within a short, well-documented period, based on the timing of wellness checks by medical staff.
Authorities also alleged that Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda ‘observed the infant to be in medical distress yet failed to alert any of the hospital staff.’
Canaan and Tavarez-Cepeda were charged on Tuesday, May 19, and continue to remain in custody ahead of an initial court hearing.
No known motive was immediately known.
