Charges filed against Magna father accused of abusing, murdering infant son

A 25-year-old man, Armando Valenzuela, has been charged with first-degree felony murder and two counts of second-degree felony child abuse following the death of his 38-day-old son due to traumatic injuries while he was in Valenzuela's care. The charges were filed on Thursday, highlighting the severity of the incidents that led to the baby's tragic death.

On March 14, authorities were called to an apartment in Magna, Utah, where Valenzuela reported that his five-week-old baby was unresponsive and not breathing. Emergency responders found a weak heartbeat and noted the baby appeared purple. After administering CPR, the baby regained a pulse and was taken to Primary Children's Hospital, where medical staff discovered significant head trauma and rib fractures consistent with abuse.

The infant succumbed to his injuries three days later, despite initial claims from both parents that he was healthy before the incident. The baby's mother revealed that she left him with Valenzuela just before receiving a call stating that the baby had stopped breathing. She also noted a pattern of distress in the baby when alone with Valenzuela, raising concerns about his care.

During police interviews, Valenzuela allegedly denied responsibility, attributing the injuries to hospital staff and insisting that he handled the baby “softly.” When confronted with evidence of abuse, he reportedly showed no surprise, continuing to blame external factors for the baby's condition.

Valenzuela's past parenting history also raised alarms; concerns were noted regarding his three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, including allegations of inappropriate discipline and instances of unexplained bruising on the child. Authorities have requested that Valenzuela be held without bail as the investigation continues.