TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sheriff: Man Wanted Son

ADVERTISEMENT

By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

TAMPA - Marcos Gomez-Romero told investigators in a sworn statement that he beat his 4-month-old daughter to death because he wanted a son and not a daughter, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

A grand jury indicted the 28-year-old Winter Haven man Thursday on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of Ariana Lizeth Rodriguez-Romero.

"His actions were beyond brutal," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Friday. "The only thing more horrific was his excuse."

Polk County Fire Rescue personnel responded to Gomez-Romero's Winter Haven home on Christmas Day on a call regarding an unresponsive infant, the sheriff's office said. Rodriguez-Romero was taken to Winter Haven Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy performed Dec. 26 showed that the infant suffered fractured ribs, a bruised liver and a ruptured spleen, among other injuries, according to an arrest report. The girl's jaws also were bruised where Gomez-Romero attempted to perform CPR, the arrest report said.

The beatings had gone on for months, investigators said. Gomez-Romero told detectives that abusing his daughter became a habit for him, to the point that he would slap her on the ribs while she was sleeping, the sheriff's office said.

According to investigators, Gomez-Romero also told them that he would call his daughter names and that every time he looked at her he became annoyed and angry because she was a girl.

When Juana Rodriguez, Gomez-Romero's wife, threatened to call police about the alleged abuse, Gomez-Romero told her he would leave her and take their 2-year-old son, detectives said.

Gomez-Romero is being held without bail at the Polk County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 29.

"Detectives worked to ensure Gomez-Romero never has the chance to harm anyone else," Judd said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT