Keene police use cellphone data, eyewitnesses in yearlong investigation into toddler's death; mother's boyfriends charged with second-degree murder

Keene Police launched a yearlong investigation into the death of 23-month-old Luca Hudson, which resulted in the boyfriend of the child's mother, Annthoni Bliss, being charged with second-degree murder. According to authorities, Bliss allegedly acted recklessly and demonstrated extreme indifference to human life, resulting in the boy’s death due to "abusive violence" and failure to seek timely medical aid for his injuries.

The tragic events reportedly began on January 13, 2022, when Luca suffered blunt head trauma, leading to severe brain swelling. He died four days later, with no underlying health issues reported. A medical examiner classified the death as a homicide, with no alternative explanations given for the injuries sustained by the child.

First responders were summoned to the family home on January 14 after a 911 call indicated the boy was in "medical distress." Both Bliss and the boy's mother, Lydia Marrotte, claimed they did not cause any harm to Luca. While Marrotte was grocery shopping at the time, surveillance footage confirmed her absence, with Bliss being the only adult present with the child.

Numerous alarming details surfaced during the investigation, including a neighbor who noted unusually prolonged crying from the apartment. Additionally, Bliss reportedly searched online for symptoms related to head injuries shortly before the 911 call was made. This call came about six hours after Bliss first acknowledged Luca's distress and complaints of head pain.

A probable-cause hearing for Bliss has been set for April 3 following an arraignment. The horrific circumstances surrounding Luca's death have drawn significant media attention, highlighting concerns about child safety and the responsibilities of caregivers.