El Paso Police officer blamed for son’s drowning tells jury “I will never forgive myself”

Raymond Licon Jr. – the El Paso Police officer on trial for the death of his baby son – took the stand in his own defense Wednesday, breaking down numerous times as he told the jury he will never forgive himself for the boy’s death.

In June of 2017, Licon left his 11-month-old son, Azrael Ezekiel Licon, in the bathtub with the water running, while Licon argued with the baby’s mother. Police said the baby drowned in the bathtub.

Licon, who remains with the El Paso Police Department on desk duty, is charged with Abandoning and Endangering A Child, Reckless Injury to A Child and Negligent Homicide. Defense Attorney Thomas Hughes said Licon insisted on taking the stand.

When asked if he meant to kill his son, Licon said, “No sir. I’d switch places with him if I could. He was a gorgeous little boy. He had his whole life ahead of him. He was the best part of me and the best part of my life.”

During his testimony Tuesday, Licon was holding a picture of his daughter Luna the entire time, saying it gives him comfort. He explained that on the night of the boy’s death, he was on the phone with his wife, Crystal Montenegro. Licon told the jury he and his wife were experiencing marital problems and were in the middle of a divorce.

The night of the baby’s death, Licon had custody of Luna and Azrael. Montenegro was about to pick them up. Licon said he normally bathed with Azrael in the bathtub because the baby was too big to bathe in the sink. That is what he planned to do that night, Licon told the jury. “When I was putting him in the tub, I heard a large crash, and I can tell it was the baby gate from downstairs, so I went downstairs to check and my daughter had knocked down the baby gate,” Licon said.

At that point, he was still speaking with the children’s mother on the phone. “I don’t know what possessed either of us, but we started arguing and I turned the TV on for my daughter. Subconsciously, I knew I was going to give my son a bath and I get off the phone and there’s a sense of panic setting in and I feel that there is something wrong and I rush upstairs and my son’s right there and I yank him out of the tub.”

Licon said he immediately performed CPR and called 911. Sobbing, he told the jury, “I’d switch places with him if I could.”

Licon further testified about the 911 call. “I’m a mess. I know I sounded like a mess and I’m thinking I need to hold it together. I have to do my best, but he’s my little boy, nothing can prepare you for that. I’m thinking I have to start the car, I have to save his life,” said.

Licon told the jury he moved his baby downstairs because “I knew my bathroom was small and there is something going on in my head – if EMS gets there, there’s no room.”

During the testimony, men on the jury had their heads down, blotting tears from their eyes. Another male juror was frowning, shaking his head back and fourth.

The court room was filled to capacity Wednesday, with more than 40 people in the gallery, most of whom had tears running down their faces while Licon testified. After Licon was done testifying, he walked over to his grandfather and embraced him, crying in his shoulder.

Dr. David Diamond, who specializes in behavioral neuroscience and is considered an expert on how memory can fail and lead to tragic consequences, testified for the defense. Diamond told the jury stress and distraction causes you to have a loss of awareness. The doctor said that because of Licon’s fight with his wife and the distraction of running downstairs to check on his daughter, that Licon “unintentionally, and unknowingly lost awareness of his son in the bathtub.”

The prosecution insisted Licon was negligent and consciously placed his own child in a very dangerous, deadly situation.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.