In a shocking and disturbing case, Francisco Javier Felix Higuera of Arizona faces grave allegations of murdering his girlfriend’s 21-month-old son, involving heinous acts of abuse and brutality, as reported by Law and Crime on Tuesday.
Higuera was arrested on Friday, formally charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in connection with the tragic death of the toddler. The boy’s mother, Maria Isabel Machado Perez, has also been arrested, facing charges of child abuse for allegedly being aware of the prolonged abuse inflicted by Higuera on her son.
According to court records obtained by Mesa NBC affiliate KPNX, on February 8, Higuera was caring for the child while Perez was at work. Upon Perez’s return, she purportedly discovered the child with apparent injuries and not breathing. Shockingly, instead of seeking immediate medical attention, Perez and Higuera drove the boy to a CVS Pharmacy.
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Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and transferred the victim to Banner Thunderbird Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Medical professionals observed bruises, cuts to the head, face, and groin regions, along with broken bones at various stages of healing, indicating prolonged abuse.
Higuera initially claimed that they were involved in a hit-and-run accident, but later confessed during police interrogation. Photographs presented to him reportedly revealed the extent of the toddler’s injuries, prompting Higuera to confess to causing abrasions on the child’s face during a force-feeding attempt.
The subsequent autopsy exposed severe injuries leading to the child’s homicide, with internal bleeding from a lacerated liver and detached bowel. Higuera later admitted to throwing the toddler and beating him with a belt after a diaper-related incident.
Both Higuera and Perez, now detained in Maricopa County Jail, were ordered not to have contact with individuals under 18 during their initial court appearances. Higuera’s bond is set at $1.5 million, while Perez’s is $500,000. The revelations in this tragic case underscore the brutal nature of the alleged crimes and the immediate need for justice for the innocent victim.
