A Mission Valley man was jailed Tuesday on suspicion of child abuse and murder following the suspicious death of his infant daughter, authorities said.
The 7-month-old girl’s father, Rafael Santos, 38, made a 911 call shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday to report that the baby was unconscious and not breathing at her family’s apartment in the 1400 block of Hotel Circle North, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Officers and paramedics performed emergency medical treatment on the child before an ambulance crew took her to Rady Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead early Tuesday.
“Findings during medical treatment and evaluation … revealed significant trauma to the infant, thus prompting a pediatric death investigation by … child-abuse and homicide (detectives),” SDPD acting Lt. Christopher Leahy said. “The preliminary investigation indicates the infant died at the hands of another person.”
Santos was being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.