| For Immediate Release Case # TBA
June 3, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDERING 4-YEAR-OLD SON BY CAUSING BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO HEAD
*Boyfriend charged with inflicting corporal injury to the child
SANTA ANA – A mother has been charged with murdering her 4-year-old son by inflicting several blunt force trauma injuries to the child’s head in her Santa Ana home. Gabriela Mariana Morales, 25, is charged with felonies for murder, assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death, child abuse, and a sentencing enhancement for child abuse resulting in death. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life if convicted, and the People will request that bail be set at $1 million.
Morales’ live-in boyfriend, Alberto Solis Guzman, 27, is charged with one felony count of corporal injury on a child and faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted. The People are requesting bail be set at $250,000. Morales and Guzman are expected to be arraigned today, June 3, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. The Department is to be assigned.
Morales and her boyfriend Guzman were living together in Santa Ana with Morales’ 4-year-old son Brandon. On or about April 30, 2008, Guzman is accused of abusing Brandon by punching and hitting the victim.
On May 30, 2008, Morales is accused of assaulting her son, causing several blunt force trauma injuries to the victim’s head and rendering Brandon unconscious. Morales is accused of waiting several hours before calling 9-1-1 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Paramedics arrived and transported the unresponsive victim to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Wagner of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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