A 2-year-old Florida girl who died on Tuesday was allegedly killed by her father, who reportedly had a history of mental health issues.
Jeronimo Duran, 33, allegedly brought his daughter to his Pembroke Pines home hours before police and fire rescue responded to the scene. There, they found the girl bleeding from her neck before she died from her injuries, according to WSVN.
Authorities believe Duran’s grandmother came home during the deadly incident and called 911. Duran’s daughter reportedly suffered a neck laceration. A knife was found near the crime scene, according to WSVN.
Duran and the victim’s mother are reportedly separated. Pembroke Pines Police Sgt. Jason Palant said Duran provided them with probable cause, but a motive remains unclear.
WTVJ reported that in early March, the victim’s mother took the girl and moved out. She claimed Duran was violent and posed a danger to her and their daughter.
A month after the pair moved out, a judge ordered that Duran and his ex would share parental responsibility. The judge also allowed Duran to watch his daughter unsupervised. The victim’s mother opposed the ruling, claiming Duran was involuntarily admitted into a mental facility five times under the Baker Act.
She also alleged that Duran had “a history of hearing voices to end his life, some while the child was with him alone,” according to WTVJ.
In court documents from June 2023, Duran admitted to having mental health issues which included anxiety. Though he said he was receiving treatment, he denied the rest of the allegations.
WTVJ reported that Duran was following the parental plan on Tuesday when he picked up his daughter, took her to his home, and killed her.
Duran is charged with first-degree murder. WSVN reported that he did not appear in court on Wednesday for medical reasons.
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[Feature Photo: Jeronimo Duran/Broward County police]
