BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 A sentencing hearing for a man found guilty of killing his infant son was postponed Wednesday after his attorney requested more time to complete paperwork for a future parole hearing.<\/p>\n
Deputy Public Defender Julius Cruz said by next week he\u2019ll have finished a report for a youthful offender hearing \u2014 commonly known as a Franklin hearing \u2014 in which mitigating factors are documented for review by a parole board.<\/p>\n
Judge John R. Brownlee rescheduled the sentencing hearing for July 7. He said there will be no further delays.<\/p>\n
Eduardo Gutierrez was found guilty in January of second-degree murder, assault on a child under 8 causing death and child abuse. He faces a life term in prison.<\/p>\n
Gutierrez was 24 when Valentin, his 3-week-old son, was found unresponsive after being left alone with him on Nov. 24, 2024.<\/p>\n
When asked by the child\u2019s mother what he\u2019d done, Gutierrez gave a chilling response: \u201cI made him stop crying.\u201d<\/p>\n
The baby died days later at Valley Children\u2019s Hospital in Madera. A doctor there determined Valentin had \u201cabusive head trauma\u201d and a cut to his liver typically indicative of being punched in the stomach.<\/p>\n
The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy suspected abuse even from the external examination of Valentin\u2019s body.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking about blunt force injuries,\u201d the pathologist testified at trial. He said Valentin\u2019s injuries showed he was \u201cseverely shaken\u201d and suffered blunt force head trauma.<\/p>\n
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