LAS VEGAS, NV – A Las Vegas man faces charges of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death after police allege he brutally killed his girlfriend’s 17-month-old son, an incident that a medical examiner described as one of the gravest cases of abuse he’d encountered.

Christian Moniz Rabino, 28, was arrested and accused of the heinous act that caused the death of Kai Tesoro. According to authorities, the child succumbed to injuries that included multiple brain hemorrhages and a broken leg, indicative of severe and forceful trauma.

Responding to an emergency call about an unresponsive toddler on June 1, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police discovered the child in critical condition. Kai was rushed to the Summerlin Pediatrics Emergency Room, where doctors found extensive injuries inconsistent with the mother’s initial claim of an accidental fall.

As law enforcement investigated, a witness stepped forward, contradicting the mother’s story and placing the blame squarely on Rabino. The mother later confessed to having witnessed Rabino’s violent behavior towards her son, including a forceful incident that resulted in the breaking of the child’s legs and at least one instance of violent shaking due to the toddler’s crying.

The child, unable to recover from the devastating injuries, was declared dead on June 6 after being removed from life support. In a tragic yet hopeful conclusion, Kai’s family chose to donate his organs, potentially saving the lives of other children.

Rabino, who was questioned at the hospital, presented a different narrative, attributing Kai’s symptoms to a bout of illness. However, medical professionals noted the severity and nature of the injuries that were explicitly non-accidental.

Now held at the Clark County Detention Center without the option of bail, Rabino is expected to face a preliminary court hearing on August 7. While the legal proceedings are underway, the community has rallied to support Kai’s family through their grief, setting up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and honor the young life taken far too soon.