A Minnesota man is accused of fatally beating his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son last week.
Austin Navarro, 24, was watching Ahziyas Dampha at an Albert Lea home on July 6. KARE reported that Dampha’s mother called the police after finding her son unresponsive — and Navarro was seen driving away with their 12-week-old son as officers arrived.
According to the news outlet, Dampha’s mother had come home from work early after getting a message from Navarro that the toddler fell down the stairs. Before arriving home, Dampha’s mother reportedly asked Navarro for pictures of her son. Navarro allegedly waited an hour before sending pictures of the unresponsive toddler with blood on his lips.
“Ong baby it’s bad asf like I don’t even wanna show u,” Navarro messaged his girlfriend, according to KSTP.
Once home, Dampha’s mother reportedly found a knife jammed in a door in an apparent attempt to stop it from opening. Navarro was reportedly in a locked room holding their 12-week-old child. Dampha was laying on a bed in the room, according to KARE.
Navarro was apprehended a mile from the home. He allegedly told police he fled because he was scared. He also stated that he put Dampha in a cold bath after hearing him fall down the stairs, according to the Star Tribune.
Dampha died at a hospital. A police detective who responded to the scene noted that the toddler had numerous severe bruises on his face and torso. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner discovered bleeding below the skull, internal bleeding to his lower torso, and injuries to his liver and pancreas.
His death was deemed a homicide.
Navarro, who remains jailed on $1 million bail, is charged with second-degree murder. The Star Tribune reported that he has three prior convictions for domestic assault, two for violating a no-contact order, and one for assault and disorderly conduct. He is due back in court on July 20.
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[Featured image: Austin Navarro/Freeborn County jail; Ahziyas Dampha/GoFundMe]
