Two caretakers in Minnesota have been arrested and accused of murdering a 3-year-old kid who was allegedly battered to death earlier this year. Rosa Esperanza Garza, 24, and Shiann Lynn Erickson, 22, were arrested on Monday and charged with one count of second-degree murder without intent in the death of infant Eastyn James Deronjic, authorities said.
According to a news release from the Moorhead Police Department, police and emergency medical workers responded to an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Belsly Boulevard South in Moorhead at 1:09 a.m. on March 18, 2024, to report a 3-year-old child who was not breathing. The residence is approximately 230 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
When first responders arrived, they discovered the severely wounded boy, subsequently identified as Eastyn, and began life-saving procedures before taking him to Sanford Hospital by ambulance. Unfortunately, the boy succumbed to his injuries and was proclaimed dead soon after arriving at the clinic.
According to police, Eastyn and his younger brother had been staying with Garza and Erickson in their Moorhead home for “an extended period.” Garza and Erickson were regarded as “acquaintances” with the children’s biological parents.
After Eastyn died, his sister was removed from the house and placed in protective custody.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Eastyn but did not release any information about his cause of death while officials awaited the results of a toxicology check.
“The investigation has been ongoing, and the autopsy results were recently received,” police stated in a Monday press release. “The Clay County Attorney’s Office issued arrest warrants, and both were taken into custody this morning without incident.” “The younger sibling remains in protective custody.”
Court documents obtained by the Star Tribune revealed new details concerning Eastyn’s death.
According to the article, authorities obtained the autopsy results on June 28 and determined that the youngster died as a result of a blunt-force injury to the bowel. In addition to the fatal blow, Eastyn allegedly sustained 28 blunt-force injuries throughout his body.
A witness reportedly told police that she went to the defendant’s residence at 1 a.m. at Garza’s request to monitor Eastyn and his sibling since Erickson was ill and needed to be hospitalized. The witness stated that Eastyn appeared ill and was vomiting up whatever he ate. He asked the witness for a glass of water. He started coughing and gagging before falling unresponsive.
The children’s mother reportedly told authorities that she hadn’t seen her children in roughly two weeks. When she last saw them, she felt Eastyn’s bruises were the result of his lack of coordination. She last spoke with the youngster a few hours before he died, and he sounded unwell but fine.
Garza and Erickson reportedly stated that the bruises on Eastyn’s face occurred the day before his death. They claimed he was vomiting on the toilet and passed out, hurting his head. Garza also said that the youngster had fallen from his bike and skateboard that day.
Erickson reportedly said that Garza had been aggressive to her in the past, but that she had never witnessed Garza being violent with Eastyn. However, that claim was undermined when the pair handed over their phones to authorities in Fargo, North Dakota, according to Lawandcrime.
Erickson reportedly fought with Garza on March 17, the day Eastyn died, and wrote: “Ok, have fun with your little b—-.” “Go beat up her kid.”
Garza and Erickson are both being held without bond at the Clay County Jail. They have their first court appearance planned on Tuesday.