A 5-year-old boy with autism is in critical condition after being severely abused by his mother’s boyfriend in North Miami Beach. The child’s injuries have resulted in his hospitalization and reliance on a ventilator, according to local authorities.
Daniel Eduardo Romero, 34, faces multiple charges, including aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm and child neglect with great bodily harm. The charges stem from an incident that occurred last Friday, when police responded to a report of a child in cardiac arrest in the 1400 block of Northeast 179th Street. Upon arrival, officers found the boy without a detectable pulse.
First responders administered CPR, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews were able to restore the child’s pulse. He was then transported to Jackson North Medical Center accompanied by his mother. Initial claims from Romero suggested that the boy’s injuries were the result of a bicycle accident, but inconsistencies in his account prompted investigators to probe further.
Romero instructed the boy’s mother to tell hospital staff that the injuries were due to a fall, a directive that ultimately unraveled under medical scrutiny. Staff at Holtz Children’s Hospital later diagnosed the child with severe internal injuries, including bleeding in the brain and abdominal cavity, lacerations to vital organs, and a fractured left arm. Medical professionals noted that the nature of the injuries indicated blunt force trauma rather than accidental causes.
As the investigation progressed, the mother initially supported Romero’s narrative but eventually changed her statement. She admitted to observing significant swelling and minor bleeding on her son’s head, as well as other unexplained injuries over time. Reports indicate that Romero often displayed irritation towards the boy’s autistic behaviors, which included rocking and making noises.
The mother further revealed that Romero, who is not the biological father of the victim but shares two children with her, had a history of tension with the boy’s biological father. Previous incidents of domestic violence involving Romero had gone unreported, raising serious concerns about his behavior.
Following his arrest, Romero remained silent during police questioning and was placed in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond. As of this morning, the boy’s condition remains unstable, and authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances of this disturbing case.
