A 6-year-old boy with autism from North Miami, identified as Mason, is in critical condition after police say he was beaten by his mother’s boyfriend.
Mason’s grandmother, Elizabeth Garcia, described her devastation seeing her grandson in the hospital, connected to machines and tubes. She said Mason’s mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Romero, has a history of violence.
Just last month, Mason was happily singing by the Christmas tree, a favorite activity he shared with his grandmother. “He’s bubbly. Mason loves music. Mason is a hugger,” Garcia said.
On Jan. 8, 911 was called after Mason, who is autistic and nonverbal, went into cardiac arrest. He was on life support but recently opened his eyes for the first time since the incident.
According to police, Romero told detectives Mason had fallen while learning to ride a bike outside. However, he could not produce the bike when asked, and Mason’s mother later told police Romero had instructed her to lie about what happened. The mother also said Romero would become annoyed with Mason’s behaviors, including rocking and making noises.
Judge Mindy Glazer described the severity of Mason’s injuries during a bond hearing:
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Internal bleeding in the brain and abdomen
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Lacerations to the liver, kidney, and spleen
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A fractured arm
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Scratches to the face
The judge stated, “This was not consistent with accidental trauma, but blunt force trauma. The child is on a ventilator.”
Mason required 30 minutes of resuscitation and was unresponsive when first found.
Public records show Romero has multiple prior charges for battery and domestic violence, including strangulation, dating back to 2014, with the most recent in 2023. Garcia expressed fear that Mason may have been hurt before without accountability.
Charges and Legal Proceedings:
Romero now faces multiple charges, including child abuse causing great bodily harm. He is expected to appear in court soon, where a judge will decide whether to uphold the denial of bond.
Garcia said she plans to speak for her grandson at the upcoming court appearance.