WEST CHESTER, PA – A Chester County man is facing murder charges in the death of a 21-month-old toddler. Enrique Lopez Gomez, 30, was taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal assault that claimed the life of his girlfriend’s son.

District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe conveyed the gravity of the incident, stating, “This Defendant brutally injured a toddler under his care, failed to get the child medical care, and caused his death. It’s difficult to fathom how someone could do this.”

The unsettling events unfolded on the evening of June 24, 2024, when emergency responders were summoned to a residence on Cope Road in Kennett Township. Upon arrival, they were met with a horrifying sight — the mother of the victim, desperate and panicked, holding her young son, who was exhibiting signs of severe distress. The child was not breathing, had white foam at the mouth, and, upon closer inspection by paramedics, evidenced bruising indicative of physical abuse.

Despite urgent medical interventions, the toddler succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead in the early hours of June 25. An autopsy would later confirm that the victim was killed by blunt force trauma to the abdomen, and officials ruled the death a homicide.

The subsequent investigation by Chester County Detectives, in collaboration with local police departments, would reveal a chilling narrative. Gomez had been left in charge of the child while the mother was at work. Overwhelmed by frustration when the child cried during a diaper change, Gomez delivered a lethal punch to the toddler’s stomach. Instead of seeking help, Gomez laid the child down to rest, a decision with dire consequences.

The boy’s mother, unaware of the attack, found her son unwell but assumed he was only ill. Tragically, she did not learn of the assault until much later, depriving her child of potentially lifesaving medical attention.

Prosecutors indicated that Gomez’s immediate admission about hitting the boy could have significantly increased the likelihood of the toddler’s survival. Additionally, officials highlighted that there were no previous incidents of abuse reported in the household.

Gomez’s arrest came swiftly as authorities sought justice for the young victim. He is currently being held on a sizable $10 million bond at Chester County Prison.