Tragic Toddler Death Caused by Blunt Trauma

SAN ANGELO, TX — (Updated Throughout at 7:20 p.m.) The death of young Nathaniel Quezada was dubbed a homicide by forensic investigators with South Plains Forensic Pathology, according to the autopsy report released in June, 2018. But what makes a homicide a homicide?

“Sufficient injury was found at autopsy to allow certification of death as noted below,” states to autopsy report. “Cause of death: Multiple vertebral fractures due to blunt impact trauma.”

Very specifically, the cause of death was broken bones due to blunt impact trauma.  

The 21-month-old baby had extensive injuries: three vertebral fractures, spinal epidural hemorrhage, brain swelling, and extensive bruising. 

“I don’t see how this little child could do that to himself,” said Justice of the Peace Eddie Howard, who pronounced the boy dead at Shannon Medical Center on March 8.

The forensic report states, “How injury occurred: Assaulted.”

The full autopsy release in June states the child was assaulted.  

The box right above that states “OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS contributing to death:” and the box is blank.

There were no other significant conditions contributing to the death.  

Some of the young boy’s family members aggressively reached out to all local media as soon as the autopsy report was released to explain “what really happened.”

The local newspaper spoke to the boy’s stepfather, Andrew Fernandez, and he told them “the toddler had a type of bone ailment that caused his bones to break more easily and made bruising more frequent.”

Mr. Fernandez is not a medical doctor.  

The full autopsy showed the infant tested negative for a bone disease. 

Fernandez said he had discovered the boy taking short breaths, so he called 911 before preforming CPR.

The forensic report release in June shows no indication of extensive bruising on the chest of the child.

On June 13, the Department of Family and Protective Services reached out to Justice of the Peace Eddie Howard. CPS requested the complete and full autopsy of Nathanial Quezada.

The document states, “We are requesting the autopsy report in connection to an on-going CPS case and this report is a material part of our case to seek termination of parental rights” for the other children.