NEFTALI KAI GARCIA Jr - 10 Months - Wenatchee (N of Yakima) WA

Wenatchee WA ---- A 19-year-old East Wenatchee man is in jail on
suspicion of homicide by abuse after a six-day investigation into the
June 2 death of a 10-month-old Wenatchee boy.

Arrested about 9 p.m. Tuesday was Felipe Alvarez Jr. of East
Wenatchee, Sgt. John Kruse, a Wenatchee Police Department spokesman,
said in a news release. Alvarez is the boyfriend of the child’s mother,
Karen Galeana.

The boy’s father is Neftali Garcia Sr., according to an obituary
published Saturday. Garcia and Galeana both live
in Wenatchee.

The infant’s name is Neftali Kai Garcia Jr.

The suspect’s mother, Blanca Equihua, said this morning that she
spoke with her jailed son by phone around 4 a.m. today, and he told her
he was innocent. She said she didn’t know anything about how the baby
had been injured.

Equihua said her son has been the boyfriend of the baby’s mother for
about three months.

Authorities originally thought the baby’s death was caused by sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS), said Don Culp, Douglas County
undersheriff. Douglas County deputies were involved in the initial
investigation because the death occurred in Douglas County. Authorities
later concluded, however, that the abuse occurred in Wenatchee.

The baby’s mother brought him to Central Washington Hospital the
morning of June 2 after she woke up and found the baby was not
breathing, according to the news release. The baby and mother had been
at home in the 1100 block of Carolyn Street in East Wenatchee, Culp
said.

That residence also was the suspect’s home, said Capt. Doug Jones of
the Wenatchee Police Department.

At the hospital, medical personnel declared the child dead upon
arrival. An autopsy, performed Friday, determined the child died from
closed head injuries consistent with abuse, according to the news
release. Jones said there were no outward signs of trauma.

Wenatchee police became involved in the investigation when
authorities determined that the injuries “likely occurred at an
apartment in the 1300 block of Maple Street in Wenatchee,” the release
stated. Jones said that is an apartment that was occupied by the baby’s
mother.

Jones said Dr. Gina Fino, who performed the autopsy, determined that
the abuse occurred one to three days before the baby died. He said the
investigation determined that the baby’s father did not have custody of
him during that period.

Jones said the arrest was made after detectives interviewed family
members, along with the baby’s mother and the suspect.

No witnesses meant plea deal in Wenatchee baby's death
Prosecutors say they were forced to plea-bargain with a man accused of killing a 10-month-old Wenatchee boy because witnesses apparently left town.

WENATCHEE, Wash. —
Prosecutors say they were forced to plea-bargain with a man accused of killing a 10-month-old Wenatchee boy because witnesses apparently left town.

The Wenatchee World reports that 19-year-old Felipe Alvarez Jr. was initially charged with homicide by abuse and first-degree manslaughter in the death of Neftali Kai Garcia Jr.

His trial was set to begin next Tuesday in Chelan County Superior Court. But prosecutors said they couldn't locate the child's mother and aunt, who were the only witnesses to the alleged abuse.

Without them, the case risked being thrown out of court for lack of evidence. So deputy prosecutor Roy S. Fore says he let Alvarez plead guilty this week to the lesser charge of third-degree assault on a child.

Alvarez was sentenced to three months in jail, but has been released with credit for time served since his arrest in June.

So, let me see if I got this...
Everybody who was sought to testify for the state disappeared.
Whatever happened to SUBPOENAS?
Time Served? Three Months? Death of Baby? WTH?