The mother of a 6-year-old boy with autism who was allegedly beaten nearly to death by his her boyfriend surrendered Friday to face charges in connection with the case.
Cynthia Hernandez, 32, turned herself in to face charges including child neglect, failure to report child neglect and providing a false statement to law enforcement, officials said.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Cynthia Hernandez
Hernandez’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Eduardo Romero, was arrested on Jan. 11 on charges including aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, child neglect with great bodily harm and providing false information to law enforcement, records showed.
Hernandez’s attorney, Hugo Apellaniz, released a statement after her surrender.
“We are extremely disappointed that the N.M.B. Police Department has decided to arrest and press charges against a mother who is nothing more than a victim. People are not perfect, but this is a dire mistake,” the statement read. “The police are aware that our client is also a victim at the hands of Daniel Romero as unfortunately her son was as well. The focus is on her son’s health and recovery, and we look forward to her being vindicated.”
According to an arrest report, the investigation began on Jan. 9 when police responded to a home in the 1400 block of Northeast 179th Street for a report of a 5-year-old child in cardiac arrest.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Daniel Eduardo Romero
In body camera footage released by police, the child, Mason, was seen wrapped in a blanket and had no detectable pulse.
The officer then started to perform chest compressions on the child until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived and were able to regain a pulse.
The child was then taken to Jackson North Hospital in critical condition.
Doctors reported internal bleeding in the brain, lacerations to the liver and kidney, a broken arm, and bruises covering his entire body.
According to arrest records, Romero gave multiple conflicting stories about how Mason was injured.
Family Photo
Family Photo
Mason
Police had previously said the boy’s mother was cooperating with the investigation and told officers Romero would become frustrated with Mason because of his neurodevelopmental condition. Records also show Romero has two prior convictions for domestic violence.
Romero was booked into jail and was being held without bond, records showed.
“You hurt my child, you hurt my grandson to the core,” Elizabeth Garcia, Mason’s grandmother, told NBC6 earlier this week. “You beat on a 6-year-old autistic boy like he was nothing.”
Meanwhile, two officers who responded and helped Mason were honored for their actions earlier this week.
Officer Jonathan Hernandez, with the help of his partner Officer Woobens Noel, spent nearly 20 minutes performing life-saving measures to revive the boy, police said. Both officers were recognized for their heroic actions during a ceremony Tuesday night.
North Miami Beach Police officers were honored after officials say their quick actions helped save the life of a 6-year-old boy with autism who was allegedly beaten nearly to death by his mother’s boyfriend. NBC6’s Valerie Ryan reports