FATHER INDICTED FOR MURDER IN THE BEATING DEATH OF HIS TWO MONTH OLD DAUGHTER – BABY’S MOTHER CHARGED WITH HINDERING PROSECUTION

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury this evening indicted a 32 year old father for murder in the beating death of his two month old daughter. The infant’s 21 year old mother has been indicted for hindering prosecution.

Juan Rodriguez was indicted on two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, one count of Manslaughter in the 1st degree, and one count of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree in the death of Giovanna Marie Rodriguez on January 29, 2007. Rodriguez has also been charged with illegally disposing of the child’s body. Rodriguez is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life imprisonment if convicted of murder. Rodriguez is being held without bail and is to be arraigned on the indictment on March 26, 2007 in State Supreme Court, Part A.

The grand jury has charged the dead infant’s mother Maribel Caceres with one count of Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree, a Class D felony offense which is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison. Caceres was also charged with illegally disposing of the baby’s body. Caceres is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail and is to be arraigned
on March 5, 2007 in State Supreme Court, Part A.

It is alleged that Juan Rodriguez caused his daughter’s death by placing one of his hands around the baby’s neck while covering her mouth with his other hand as he slammed her into the crib where she struck her head. It is also alleged that the defendants transported the infant’s body from their home on Long Island in Hempstead, New York to the Bronx, where the body was placed in a trash chute at 225 Willis Avenue.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Julia Charriot of the Child Abuse/Sex Offense Bureau.