Father charged with 3-month-old’s murder in Indio could be eligible for death sentence

An Indio couple was charged with murder today for the death of their 3-month-old child.

Leonardo Daniel Alvarado Fernandez, 33, and Zue Itzayanna Flores Urias, 26, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder after police responded to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital on a report that two parents had brought their dead child into the hospital with traumatic injuries, according to Indio police.

In addition to the murder charge, Fernandez was also charged with torture, two counts of willful cruelty to a child and assault on a child under 8 years old resulting in death. The murder charge against him includes a special circumstance allegation of inflicting torture, making him eligible for the death penalty if the district attorney opts to pursue it.

Urias faces an additional charge of assault on a child under 8 years old resulting in death. The murder charge against her does not include a special circumstance allegation.

The pair are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Police responded to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital at 4:28 a.m. Thursday regarding two parents who had brought their dead toddler into the hospital, according to Indio police spokesman Benjamin Guitron.

After officers met with hospital staff and the parents, the death was determined to be suspicious, Guitron said.

Detectives later determined the child -- whose name and sex have not been released -- died due to blunt force trauma and physical abuse.

The parents were arrested at 12:15 p.m. that day.

Guitron said the couple had additional children, who have been placed in the custody of Riverside County Child Protective Services.