This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/nyregion/detectives-investigating-death-of-4-month-old-boy.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Detectives Investigating Death of 4-Month-Old Boy Police Question Parents in Baby’s Death
(about 1 hour later)
New York City police detectives on Wednesday were questioning the parents of a 4-month-old boy who died late Tuesday after having been brought to a Manhattan hospital unconscious and with signs of trauma. New York City police detectives on Wednesday questioned the parents of a 4-month-old boy who died on Tuesday night after he was taken to a Manhattan hospital unconscious and with signs of bruising on his hands, feet and back.
Shortly after the boy, Eduardo Rocha Ovalle, died around 9 p.m. at NYU Langone Medical Center, investigators went to Apt. 4C on 32nd Street near Park Avenue, where he lived with his father, an employee of the Mexican consulate, and mother, who stayed at home with the baby, the police said. But by Wednesday night, no charges had been filed and the questioning had ended. The New York City medical examiner said that an autopsy on the baby, Eduardo Rocha Ovalle, had been inconclusive and that the cause of death would have to be determined by further tests, which could take weeks.
The couple, who were not immediately identified by the police, had been in the apartment for less than a year, according to Wanda Hernandez, 52, the superintendent of the building, who lives directly below the couple. They had come to New York for work, Ms. Hernandez said. Shortly after the boy died around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, investigators went to the apartment on East 32nd Street in Manhattan where he lived with his father, Eduardo Rocha Bracamontes, 36, an employee of the Mexican Consulate, and his mother, who was not identified. The mother stayed at home with the baby, the police said. Detectives treated the apartment as a potential crime scene on Wednesday and posted an officer at the door.
In that time, the building superintendent said, the police had been to the apartment at least twice. About two months ago, Ms. Hernandez said, a dispute between the couple spilled out of their apartment and into the lobby, with the boy’s mother – who speaks only Spanish – saying that she had been violently shaken and bruised by her husband. The couple have lived in the apartment for less than a year, according to Wanda Hernandez, 52, the superintendent of the building, who lives directly below them. In that time, police officers went to the apartment twice after reports of a domestic disturbance, in September and October, the police said.
“I asked is everything O.K., because she was crying,” said Ms. Hernandez. “I said, ‘Where’s the baby?’ She said: ‘Upstairs. He doesn’t want to give me baby.'” Ms. Hernandez said one of the disputes spilled out of their apartment and into the lobby, with the boy’s mother — who speaks only Spanish — saying that she had been violently shaken and bruised by her husband. “I asked is everything O.K., because she was crying,” Ms. Hernandez said. “I said, ‘Where’s the baby?’ She said: ‘Upstairs. He doesn’t want to give me baby.’ ”
The mother showed her bruises on her arms, she said, “and then cops came and we all went upstairs. I was translating for her.” The baby was in the bed, she said. The mother showed her bruises on her arms, Ms. Hernandez said, “and then cops came and we all went upstairs. I was translating for her.”
“They spoke to him and also to her, and then everything was O.K. and they left,” Ms. Hernandez said. After the first visit from the police, officers also left without making an arrest, she said. The officers who responded were not made aware of any physical abuse, the police said, and characterized both episodes as verbal disputes. The police said the family had had no contact with the Administration for Children’s Services, which investigates child neglect and abuse.
A spokesman for the Mexican consulate said that the boy’s father, Eduardo Rocha Bracamontes, 36, is currently employed as a consular officer. “Of course, it’s a very sad situation,” the spokesman, Carlos Gerardo Izzo Rivera, said. “We are waiting for the information” about what happened, he added. “They spoke to him and also to her, and then everything was O.K. and they left,” Ms. Hernandez said. After the other visit from the police, officers also left without making an arrest.
In a statement, the consulate said that it was in contact with local officials and that, “according to international law,” it would provide Mr. Rocha and the boy’s mother, who was not identified, with assistance and legal advice as it would for any Mexican in New York. Mr. Rocha did not respond to a phone call and an email seeking comment. “Of course, it’s a very sad situation,” said Carlos Gerardo Izzo Rivera, a spokesman for the Mexican Consulate. “We are waiting for the information” about what happened, he added.
John J. McCarthy, the Police Department’s top spokesman, said officers had responded to reports of verbal disputes at the apartment on Sept. 27 and a second time on Oct. 4. No arrests were made. The family had no contact with the Administration for Children’s Services, the police said. The city medical examiner’s office said the cause of death was under investigation. The baby’s body showed signs of bruising on his hands, feet and back, the police said. In a statement, the consulate said that it was in contact with local officials and that “according to international law,” it would provide Mr. Rocha and the baby’s mother with assistance and legal advice as it would for any Mexican in New York.
Separately on Wednesday, police officers responded to an early morning call in the Bronx of a 1-month-old who died at home with his parents. The father of that baby, Lester Classen, told the police that he had put his son to sleep normally on Tuesday night. When he awoke around 4:50, he found his son lifeless and called 911. The police arrived about 30 minutes later. Monica Arguelles, who works at the consulate, said that Mr. Rocha had been there only a few weeks. She said she believed he had recently moved to the city from Mexico. “He was a nice person,” she said, adding that he often said hello when passing in the hall.
Officers found no apparent signs of a crime at the apartment. The cause of death had not yet been determined as of Wednesday afternoon. Ms. Hernandez said that when officers came to the apartment in the fall, Mr. Rocha’s wife told them that she felt alone since the birth of her son. “I have no family here, I have no family here,” Ms. Hernandez recalled the woman telling the police.
A doorman in the building, Frank Lugo, said he occasionally spoke to Mr. Rocha in Spanish. “He would say hi to me, ‘good morning,’ ” Mr. Lugo said.
Separately on Wednesday, police officers responded to an early-morning call in the Bronx about a 1-month-old who died at home with his parents. The father of that baby, Lester Classen, told the police that he had put his son to sleep normally on Tuesday night and that when he awoke around 4:50 a.m., he found the baby lifeless and called 911. The police arrived about 30 minutes later.
Officers found no apparent signs of a crime at the apartment. The medical examiner was investigating the cause of death.

Nate Schweber contributed reporting.