Local News Says a Marine Back from Iraq Arrested for Killing His Infant Son

Fresno, CA. Nov. 20, 2006. That's the opening tease into the local late news on my ABC affiliate, KFSN TV, in Fresno, California tonight. And, the lead story on every other local channel. A scary and very sad story indeed.

A three-month-old infant, Roman, is dead and tonight his father is in jail, having been arrested by Fresno, California police earlier today.

Robert Quiroz, 20, was returned from his first tour in Iraq to request and receive full custody of his infant son a few months ago. After being accused of killing his son, he was taken into custody at his northwest Fresno apartment earlier today. A neighbor fled into his home after seeing police coming into the neighborhood to make the arrest. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer indicated there was no altercation during the arrest. Bail has been set at one million dollars.

On Sunday, Quiroz called authorities after he said the baby had stopped breathing. The infant was pronounced dead later that night at a local hospital. He suffered from massive blunt force trauma to his head, according to local investigators.

Quiroz was awarded custody after his wife suffered complications from the pregnancy and died last August. His wife, and high school sweetheart, died of a brain aneurysm a few hours after giving birth to their son, Roman. The couple also had an 18-month old daughter, Kylie. She was placed in Child Protective Services after her father was arrested today. Police have said all indications are that Kylie was not harmed by her father.

In September, Quiroz said he was overwhelmed both by grief for his deceased wife and learning how to be a single father to his two children, especially his young infant son.

Several weeks ago, Robert Quiroz was placed under investigation for allegedly abusing his infant son who had suffered a broken arm. Doctors notified the authorities after treating baby Roman in October. Child protective services took the infant into custody but released him back to Quiroz three days later although he was still under investigation for possible child abuse. Child welfare personnel refused to comment on the case but admitted they will do an internal investigation to determine why the child was released back to his father.

The US Marine Corps has refused to give out Quiroz's rank and unit. He was raised in Caruthers.

There are no indications one way or the other if Quiroz had received help from the Marines or other related military or non-military organizations in adjusting to becoming a single father to his two small children immediately after his wife's untimely death.

Tonight an infant is dead, possibly murdered by his father and a small 18-month old toddler faces her father being in jail for allegedly killing her infant brother.

Additional resources

abc30.com
fresnobee.com
kmph.com
mercurynews.com