Man Jailed in Fatal Beating of Niece, 2
A Cypress man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of beating his 2-year-old niece to death, police said.
Michael Balderas, 28, had legal guardianship of Jo-Jade, whose parents are incarcerated in Texas, according to authorities. The child’s last name was not released.
An autopsy showed that the girl was severely beaten below the waist, police said.
Police were called to the 5400 block of Twin Lakes Drive about 4:20 p.m.
By the time officers arrived, Balderas and his girlfriend had taken the child to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Balderas is being held without bail at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
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