CANADA • Adriel DA SILVA GARCIA, 5 months old (2010) ~ Toronto ON

Assaulted baby dies of injuries, police say


Baby Adriel Da Silva Garcia and his mother, Jessica, are seen in this undated photo.

November 11, 2010 - A grieving great-uncle said Wednesday his seven-month-old great-nephew didn't deserve to die of injuries suffered during an alleged beating in a case that Toronto police are now regarding as a homicide.

"(Adriel Da Silva Garcia) was a gift to our family," Jack Grilo told CTV Toronto. "We will always love Adriel. He was our little boy."

On Sept. 11, the boy's mother Jessica left him alone in the care of her boyfriend, Ronnie Munoz-Hernandez, 21, who had moved in a week earlier. By the next day, the boy had become unresponsive.



Munoz-Hernandez accompanied the mother when she took the boy to the Hospital for Sick Children.

The boy underwent brain surgery, but Grilo said the family received the grim news that the little boy was brain-dead. Doctors gave the child two days to live. He lasted two months, drawing his last breath at 10:05 p.m. on Tuesday.

In the meantime, Hernandez slipped out of the hospital before his mother got the devastating news.

Toronto police issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of Munoz-Hernandez on a charge of aggravated assault. They are now preparing to charge him with murder, but are awaiting the results of an autopsy.

"This situation has turned much worse. The boy has died," said Const. Tony Vella of the Toronto police.

Speaking to Munoz-Hernandez, he said: "You are wanted by police. Contact a lawyer. Turn yourself in. We are doing everything possible to locate you. You could run all over the world, but eventually you will be caught."

Since then, they have arrested and charged one man they alleged helped Munoz-Hernandez evade arrest.

Munoz-Hernandez is described as white, 5'1", 140 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He speaks English with a Hispanic accent.

Police do not think Munoz-Hernandez is still in Ontario. They suspect he may have fled to Quebec or possibly left the country.

No allegations against Munoz-Hernandez have been proven in a court of law.

Grilo said the family needs closure. Adriel "didn't deserve what was done to him. He was just a baby," he said.

An RBC trust account has been set up in the name of Adriel Da Silva Garcia. The account number is 05812-003-5091749.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101110/assaulted-baby-dies-munoz-hernandez-101109/20101110/?hub=TorontoNewHome

Man charged in death of baby
July 22, 2011


Adriel Da Silva Garcia died of injuries he allegedly received from a man who was caring for him.

A man who has been eluding Toronto homicide detectives in the death of a five-month-old boy he’d been caring for is now charged with murder.

Ronnie Munoz-Hernandez, 22, surrendered to police on July 16 and was charged with second-degree murder on Friday.

When he surrendered with his lawyer, homicide detectives made it clear they were seeking to file a murder charge, Const. Victor Kwong said.

Munoz-Hernandez vanished after Adriel Da Silva Garcia suffered critical injuries.

The baby was rushed to The Hospital for Sick Children Sept. 12, 2010 and died on Nov. 9.

An autopsy revealed the child’s death was linked to the injuries he suffered. The nature of the injuries was not released.

Detectives charged Juan Neira- Penaloza, 30, as an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping him evade police.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/22/man-charged-in-death-of-baby