Minnesota Man Sentenced for Violent Death of 2-Year-Old Boy
Albert Lea, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southern Minnesota man has been sentenced for the death of a two-year-old boy.
See Also: Fatal MN Crash: Albert Lea Man Killed, 3 Boys & Woman Injured
He entered guilty pleas in September to second-degree murder and third-degree assault charges. He was arrested following a traffic stop in Albert Lea last July.
The criminal complaint against 26-year-old Austin Michael Navarro says he was pulled over after leaving the scene of an unresponsive child by the time officers arrived at the residence.
Albert Lea, MN Receives Prison Sentence for Death of 2-Year-Old Boy
Police had spoken with the toddler's mother, who told officers she had left work early after receiving text messages from the Albert Lea man that stated her son had been badly injured in a fall down some stairs.
The charges say the mother also told the officers that Navarro had finally sent a photo to her phone that showed blood on the apparent unresponsive child’s lips and severe bruising.
She indicated that when she arrived at the house, she had to force her way through a door because a knife had been jammed into it in an apparent attempt to prevent it from opening.
The criminal complaint says the toddler was transported to the emergency room at the Mayo Clinic Albert Lea Health System Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a little over an hour later after extensive life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
A later autopsy determined the toddler's death was due to multiple blunt force injuries and was ruled a homicide.
On Wednesday Navarro was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with credit for 524 days already spent behind bars. His plea agreement called for a 25 year prison term.
Court records show his previous criminal history includes convictions for felony domestic assault, felony assault, two felony violations of domestic abuse no contact orders, and two misdemeanor domestic assault crimes.
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Gallery Credit: troy dunken
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