‘My heart is shattered': Family hoping for justice after child in abuse case dies
A family is hoping to see justice after a 6-year-old boy with autism died after police say he was nearly beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend.
Mason’s grandmother, Elizabeth Garcia, spoke in an exclusive interview with NBC6 Tuesday as prosecutors review the charges in light of the child’s death.
“He was my first grandchild, my buddy,” Garcia said. “We got each other — we were like yin and yang.”
Garcia said she never imagined she would have to say goodbye to her grandson.
“It’s a huge loss. In my heart, my heart is shattered,” she said.
On Jan. 9, 6-year-old Mason was found unresponsive and not breathing, authorities said. His mother’s boyfriend, Daniel Romero, is accused of beating the child nearly to death.
Last week, Mason’s family made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support after doctors said he suffered severe and irreversible brain damage.
“He deserved a quality of life,” Garcia said.
Mason died on Friday, his family said.
Garcia said she and Mason’s mother were able to be with him before he took his final breath.
“I talked to him and told him that we were OK, that he can go, and that it was OK — and he did,” she said.
Romero remains in jail facing nine charges. Mason’s mother, Cynthia Hernandez, also faces charges of child neglect and child abuse.
Legal experts say Mason’s death could lead to more serious charges.
“I’m not involved in the investigation, but I am 99% sure that there will be a murder charge against the boyfriend and there will be, in my opinion, a charge against the mother,” criminal defense attorney Frank Quintero said.
Court records show Romero has two prior convictions for domestic violence by strangulation.
Hernandez’s attorney has argued that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Romero — something Garcia hopes prosecutors will take into consideration.
“I want my grandson to stand for something,” Garcia said. “I want victims of domestic violence to see that this is a thing and that you cannot control these monsters.”
The State Attorney’s Office said it is reviewing the charges now that Mason has died. It is not yet clear whether additional or upgraded charges will be filed.
