A teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with the beating death of the one-year-old child of his girlfriend. Continue reading after the jump.
Joshua Guzman, 18, from Staten Island, was charged with assault and child endangerment after allegedly hitting the child’s head twice against the wall.
Seth Azemi, aged 14 months, was declared brain dead after spending a week on life support when he was admitted to hospital with two skull fractures.
His mother, 25-year-old Stephanie Soto, left Seth in the care of her younger boyfriend.
Court papers say that Guzman was walking with the baby in his arms when he swung his body around, hitting the child’s head against a bedroom wall.
Then, when he shut the door as he was leaving the room, he struck the boy’s head in the process.
Police allege that he repeatedly banged the child’s head against the wall.
A medical examiner is still working to determine the cause of death but depending on the results the charges may be upgraded to murder.
According to the New York Daily News, Soto was a no-show at a family court hearing on Friday over the custody of her two other children.
Seth’s father Agim (Jimmy) Azemi said at the hearing: ‘I had to see my son take his last breath and then spend all day in this courthouse – and they’re not even here.
‘I’m sick of telling the same story again. My son died.’
Soto’s two other children by Mr Azemi, a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl, were removed from her custody by the city Administration for Children’s Services after Seth’s death.
He said he wanted the mother of his children arrested in connection with Seth’s death but police have not yet brought any charges against her.
He told the Daily News: ‘She knew what was happening. Her mother who lived with her warned about the boyfriend.
‘He weighed 20 pounds when he was brought to the hospital. That’s not normal. When I was involved, he was healthy – 35 to 40 pounds.’
He also said ACS officials had been monitoring the children for the past ten months and failed in August to notice bruises on the child’s face.
what a true sad story,Hope baby seth gets justice for this crazy person to take a child’s life,May he rott in jail,Crazy and still no autopspy,Jan,24,2012 will be date he gets upgraded to murder,May you rest in peace baby Seth Azemi.
I’m a father and when I heard about this my insides turned I know the father of this beautiful child who’s life was taking by animal,Well I would like to add to that,this is a very sad,sorry but true story, I hope to god that this animal dose not get out of jail and suffers for what he has done to such a beautiful baby,I want to hope and pray to god that father get his children back,He is a good father with a big heart,and as far as the mother we all know that out of spite you caused this nightmare!!Hope you sleep good at night.You shouldn’t get the right to be around your kids for what you have caused not only to yourself but to your kids and to their father. ,RIP little baby Seth Aden Azemi,
Its really sad that this had to happen to baby seth,People need to focus on the mother of this child who she let watch her baby,also her other two kids,She should be brought up on charges as well!! Making all this he said she said stuff about the father,Meanwhile you should be looking @ her she knew what was happening and turned a blind eye,I’m a single mother and I know what goes on with my kids!So please don’t give me that crap about she didn’t know,May god rest that little boys soul,Hope the father gets his other children cause they need him in their lives right now,my heart goes out to them and I pray that the mother goes to jail.