LOCAL : Santa Ana Man Accused of Murder in Death of Child, 3
A Santa Ana man was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the alleged child abuse death of a 3-year-old boy believed to be his son, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said today.
Joaquin Figueroa Ayala, 32, was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail today following his arrest Thursday night in the death of the boy, whom sheriff’s officials would identify only by his first name, Francisco.
Sheriff’s Lt. Bob Rivas said Ayala drove the child to Mission Viejo at 8:15 a.m. to the house where his wife was working as a maid. When the boy’s mother discovered that he was bruised and not breathing, paramedics were called, Rivas said.
The boy was rushed to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo, where he died. After detectives investigated the case for child abuse, Ayala was arrested about 9 p.m.
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