Deputies: 2-year-old boy found beaten in closet, man charged with his murder

FAIRBURY, Neb. — Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man after they found a 2-year-old boy unresponsive in a closet. The child later died.

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Law enforcement officials said they were called for a welfare check at an apartment in Fairbury, Nebraska, on Friday, News Channel Nebraska reported.

When deputies arrived, a woman answered the door. They tried to speak to her alone, but they said Jake Gonzalez followed behind. After being asked to allow deputies to speak to the woman alone, officials said he had asked to call his mother.

At that point, the woman asked for deputies to call for an ambulance for her son, KETV reported.

Gonzalez ran from the apartment at that point with deputies chasing him.

That’s when deputies found the child in a closet, unresponsive, with severe injuries to the head and body, News Channel Nebraska reported.

Court documents said the boy was only wearing a diaper and had bruises on his head, arms, back and legs. He was “lethargic and poorly responsive,” with “poor respiration,” KETV reported.

They found additional injuries which were described by KETV according to an affidavit.

He was taken to a local hospital then flown to another hospital in Omaha, where he was pronounced dead, News Channel Nebraska reported.

Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, child abuse and other charges, KETV reported.

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