Case # 12CF3489
Date: May 5, 2015
MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING GIRLFRIEND’S 18-MONTH-OLD BABY BY SUFFOCATING HIM USING BEDSHEET AND PHYSICALLY ABUSING HIM
SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of murdering his girlfriend’s 18-month-old baby boy by wrapping him up in a bedsheet to suffocate him and physically abusing him four days before his death. Cheyenne Mateo Fuimaono, 23, Buena Park, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of second degree murder, assault on a child resulting in death, and child abuse. He faces a maximum sentence of 31 years to life in state prison at his sentencing July 17, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
During the evening on Nov. 26, 2012, Fuimaono was sleeping with his girlfriend and her 18-month-old son, Malik Perez, at the home they shared with the defendant’s parents in Buena Park. While they were sleeping, the toddler began scratching his ear and the defendant bit the victim’s arm, leaving visible marks on him.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2012, Fuimaono was babysitting the infant and was unable to stop him from crying. He murdered the victim by wrapping him up in a bed sheet, completely covering the infant’s face, and left him unattended in a bedroom.
At approximately 1:23 p.m., the defendant called 911 to report that the baby was not breathing. Paramedics arrived at the scene and found Perez lying unconscious and performed CPR on him. The baby remained unresponsive and he was immediately taken to Western Medical Center. Physicians at Western Medical Center could not revive the baby and transported him to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
Doctors at CHOC noticed unusual marks and discolorations on the baby, including bite marks on the arm and bruising on his body. Doctors contacted the Buena Park Police Department, who investigated this case.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.