Magna father arrested for murder after infant dies from traumatic injuries, police say

MAGNA, Utah (KUTV) — A 38-day-old infant died three days after being hospitalized with traumatic injuries believed to have been inflicted by his father.

According to Unified police, the child was found unresponsive at the family’s Magna home on the evening of March 14 by his father, 25-year-old Armando Valenzuela, who called 911 after realizing his son had stopped breathing.

Officers responded to the residence just after 8 p.m., where they found the child with a faint pulse but unresponsive and limp. According to Valenzuela, the infant had been fussy earlier in the evening, and after being picked up from his swing, he suddenly became limp. Valenzuela alleged he performed CPR, which was unsuccessful, and then called 911.

The child was transported to Primary Children’s Hospital, where doctors discovered multiple signs of serious trauma, including retinal hemorrhaging, extensive brain bleeding, and multiple rib fractures. Police documents noted that these injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma. The infant was listed as critically ill and died at the hospital three days later.

The investigation into the child’s death revealed that Valenzuela had been alone with him that evening while the infant’s mother had left the house around 7:50 p.m. She reportedly received a call from Valenzuela shortly after 8 p.m. saying their son wasn’t breathing. She immediately told him to call 911.

Autopsy results confirmed the child’s injuries, unveiling severe subarachnoid hemorrhaging, often associated with traumatic brain injury, and multiple rib fractures. Doctors advised that these injuries are more commonly seen in cases of abuse rather than accidents.

During an interview with police, Valenzuela denied that he caused harm to his son but did not seem surprised when authorities informed him about the physical trauma confirmed in the autopsy. Officers noted that Valenzuela expressed concern over the doctors’ care and handling of his son, suggesting that medical staff contributed to his death.

The child’s mother voiced concern about her son’s behavior, noting that he would often scream when alone with Armando, but not when she was present. She indicated that his cries would become louder and more intense when Valenzuela was watching him.

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According to police documents, Valenzuela asked the officer transporting him to jail about “second chances,” questioning whether, if found guilty, the officer would believe he was “a good enough person to get a second chance.”

Valenzuela was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on felony charges of murder and intentional child abuse.

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