Man Charged With Indio Baby’s Murder

Four months ago, a baby boy in Indio died at a local hospital because of severe head trauma, and on Thursday, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office announced that a suspect has been charged with his murder.

News Channel 3 has known about this story since Oct. 9 — the day 21-month-old Serik Mathew Nieto died at Loma Linda Hospital.

Although a person of interest was in custody, News Channel 3 could not air a report, because charges had not been filed.

“He had multiple bruises on him all over his body, like a man beats up a man,” said Serik Nieto Sr., the father.

After five days in the hospital, Serik Mathew Nieto passed away.

It’s still unclear how it happened, but the Indio Police Department and District Attorney’s office said Esteban Alamo, 24, of Los Angeles killed the baby boy.

Since Oct. 14, Alamo has been in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail.

He was the mother’s boyfriend at the time of the incident and the incident happened at the mother’s house in Indio, authorities said.

Alamo was in violation of his parole by leaving Los Angeles County, authorities said.

He was interviewed by the Indio police the same day the baby was taken to the hospital, but he wasn’t arrested until 10 days later.

“They didn’t run his name when they interviewed him,” said Nieto Sr. “They took him down to the station and they didn’t run his name. If they would have ran his name, they would have found out he was on parole from L.A.”

Nieto Sr. was with the baby’s mother, Angel Perez, 22, for eight years, but they are no longer together.

News Channel 3 spoke with Perez over the phone, and she said she wasn’t there when the baby was hurt.

But Nieto Sr.’s daughter Sariah, 5, told him she saw what happened.

“She said they kicked him, but kicking (is) not the only thing,” said Nieto Sr. “He had multiple bruises on his body, dude. They didn’t just kick him.”

It took several months for the coroner to complete an autopsy and for the district attorney’s office to file official charges.

Nieto Sr. said four months is far too long, even though the suspect has been in custody the entire time.

“I want justice for whoever did this to my son, and whoever was responsible or who had any knowledge that this was occurring in this home,” said Nieto Sr.

Alamo was charged with murder and assaulting a child, causing death.

No court date has been set.