CASS CO., Ill. (Beardstown)— Illinois State Police have released information about a west-central Illinois homicide that left an infant dead from blunt force trauma.
The baby in question, Edwardo Arizmendi Flores, had been left in the care of the mother’s live-in boyfriend, and was discovered by the mother at 10:16 a.m. the morning of October 31, 2014, severely beaten, and burned.
The infant died after being rushed to the hospital.
On November 1, 2014, an autopsy on the eight-month-old Flores, who is from Beardstown, was conducted in McLean County.
The preliminary results of the autopsy revealed injuries consistent with blunt force trauma and third degree burns to the victim.
The live-in boyfriend, Jose M. Nieto-Roman, 28 of Beardstown, Illinois, was identified as a person of interest and is currently in custody at the Morgan County Jail for Child Endangerment. Nieto-Roman was held for several days at a local hospital after being treated for stab wounds he inflicted upon himself.
Today, the Cass County State’s Attorney issued an arrest warrant for two counts of Murder and one count Aggravated Battery to a Child. The warrant has a $5 million dollar bond.
Agents from the Zone 4 Pittsfield Office served the warrant on Nieto-Roman at the Morgan County Jail.
The investigation is continuing by the Illinois State Police Zone 4, Beardstown Police Department, the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.