A 20-year-old Long Island man is accused of beating his 2-month-old daughter to death in Nassau County.
Marlon Rabanales-Pretzantzin was arrested on Wednesday after his daughter was found in cardiac arrest at their apartment in Inwood. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
According to police, officers responded to the residence last Friday for reports of a baby choking. They arrived to find her not breathing and suffering “severe injuries,” including abrasions and broken bones, Pix 11 reported.
A 1-year-old boy was also removed from the apartment and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Nassau County Police said Rabanales-Pretzantzin confessed to beating the infant. He allegedly said he “hit the child several times around the head and face” and threw her on the ground because he didn’t believe she was his child and didn’t “respect or want” her.
The children’s 20-year-old mother also lives at the apartment in Inwood, but is not believed to have been involved in the abuse.
According Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the suspect is originally from Guatemala and entered the U.S. through Texas.
“The individual will answer to his crimes here in Nassau County,” Ryder said. “After he’s done with his sentencing, then there will be a determination of deportation or being held here.”
Rabanales-Pretzantzin has been charged with second-degree murder. He was arraigned on Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead, where he pleaded not guilty.