Suspect in child abuse case facing additional charge after son, 2, dies

UPDATE: New Mexico State Police investigators amended the charges filed against Ricardo A. Soto to include “Child Abuse Resulting in Death.”

At around 5:30 p.m. on June 10, 2018, Soto’s two-year-old son died at the hospital from suspected abuse. The child sustained severe head trauma while in the custody of Soto on June 7, 2018, and had been in critical care since, police officials said.

Soto remains in the El Paso County Detention Center and will be extradited to New Mexico. He was detained by US Customs officials in El Paso as he attempted to re-enter the United States from Mexico.

ORIGINAL STORY:

New Mexico State police are searching for a man accused of abusing his 2-year-old child. Police say Ricardo A. Soto has a warrant out for his arrest on child abuse charges and evading an officer.

Police say on Thursday, Soto reported his two-year-old child was unresponsive and seizing at his home in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. The child was taken to an El Paso hospital. Police say the boy suffered a head fracture, leading to an extensive brain injury. Medical experts say the injuries are so severe, it is not likely the boy will survive.

Medical experts told police the child’s injuries are consistent with physical abuse and were not accidental. However, Soto fled the area before officers were able to interview him.

Soto is 33-years-old, Hispanic, five feet eight inches tall and 140 pounds.

He was last seen in El Paso and has ties to Juarez. Police say he may attempt to cross the border.

If you have any information on where he is, you are asked to call New Mexico State Police or call 911.