LAKELAND, Fla. - Bobby Curry Jr. was apprehended on a warrant Friday for the death of a 23-month-old child, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
According to Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 5:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Kansas Avenue for a report of an unresponsive child.
Officers arrived to find 23-month-old Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur at the residence without a pulse.
Read: Zephyrhills Man Struck And Killed By Vehicle While Lying On Dark Road
Officers performed CPR on Ezekiel until the Lakeland Fire Department arrived to provide medical assistance.
The adult present with Ezekiel at that time was Bobby Curry Jr., 20, boyfriend of Ezekiel’s mother.
Ezekiel was transported first to Lakeland Regional Health and then to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, Ezekiel succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at Tampa General Hospital on March 8, 2024, at 5:03 p.m.
Detectives who responded to assume the investigation learned from Curry that an accident occurred sometime between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Curry said he gave Ezekiel a bath and while getting him out of the bath, the family’s puppy leaped onto Ezekiel causing the child to first hit the back of his head on the bathtub and then the floor mat.
Read: Detectives Arrest St. Petersburg Man For Stabbing Murder Of His Girlfriend
Curry said Ezekiel tensed up after the fall, but he was still breathing. Curry stated that he placed the victim in his bed so he could rest. He said that Ezekiel was slightly breathing at that time. But Curry did not call 911.
Curry said he put Ezekiel on his bed to rest, but when he returned around 3:13 p.m., Ezekiel was not breathing. Curry put Ezekiel back on the bathroom floor, gave him chest compressions and some air.
Ezekiel then began taking breaths as if he was gasping. Curry still did not call 911. Curry messaged Ezekiel’s mother on Instagram during that time, letting her know Ezekiel had severe physical difficulties.
Between 4:53 p.m. and 5:24 p.m., Curry and Ezekiel’s mother messaged each other further on Instagram.
Curry conveyed details to her about Ezekiel’s grave condition. At 5:24 p.m., Ezekiel’s mother told Curry to call 911, and that was when he finally did.
Detectives conferred with physicians at Lakeland Regional Health, who advised Ezekiel was without oxygen for at least 45 minutes.
Read: 21 Illegal Immigrants Among 228 Arrested In Polk County, Florida, “Operation March Sadness 2024”
The findings of physicians in the Child Protection Team at Tampa General Hospital indicated the injuries to Ezekiel were consistent with physical abuse.
On March 11th, 2024, the Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and determined the cause of Ezekiel’s death was not consistent with Curry’s account of injuries sustained by an accidental fall but was blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was Homicide.
As mentioned previously, an arrest warrant was obtained for Curry, charging him with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse.
__Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.__
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter.Sign up for our free newsletter.
