***UPDATE as of 5:30 p.m. on 10/01/2019***
Pinellas detectives have upgraded the criminal charges for 30-year-old Burgandie Marquez, to one count of 1st Degree Murder following the death of her son, 5-month-old Mason Marquez.
Detectives say Burgandie Marquez was caring for Mason on September 26, 2019, at a residence located at 3582 Country Point Place in Palm Harbor, when she became enraged during a phone conversation.
Detectives say Marquez intentionally and forcefully jerked the child up from the ground twice causing the child's head to snap backward. She then placed the child underneath her arm and ran up and down the stairs inside the residence allowing the child's head to bounce up and down without support.
Mason sustained a severe brain bleed and was hospitalized. On September 30, 2019, Mason was taken off life support and he succumbed to his injuries.
Marquez remains in the Pinellas County Jail.
The investigation continues.
***End of Update***
***UPDATE as of 11:30 a.m. on 10/01/2019***
According to detectives, the 5-month-old boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury on Thursday, September 26, 2019, has succumbed to his injuries.
Detectives say the child was taken off life support at St. Joseph’s Hospital and was pronounced deceased at about 1:45 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2019.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Detectives will wait for the results of the autopsy to determine if they will upgrade the criminal charges for the child’s mother, 30-year-old Burgandie Marquez.
Next of kin has been notified.
***Original News Release***
Who: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Operations Bureau - Crimes Against Children Unit
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
The victim is a 5-month-old male. Per Florida Statute 119.071(2)(h)1, no further information will be released that would tend to identify the victim.
Burgandie N. Marquez (Arrested) DOB: 08/31/1989 Charges: One count of Aggravated Child Abuse with Great Bodily Injury
What: Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a woman for Aggravated Child Abuse after a 5-month-old suffered a traumatic brain injury in Palm Harbor.
When: The incident occurred on Thursday, September 26, 2019.
The suspect was arrested at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
Where: The incident occurred at a private residence in Palm Harbor.
Why/How: Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a woman for Aggravated Child Abuse after a 5-month-old suffered a traumatic brain injury in Palm Harbor.
According to detectives, their investigation began on Friday, September 27, 2019, when they were notified by detectives from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office of a suspicious incident involving a 5-month-old child with life-threatening injuries.
Detectives say earlier that same day, 30-year-old Burgandie Marquez stopped at a Mobil Gas Station in Pasco County with her 5-month-old son, complaining that the child was having seizures and needed medical attention.
Paramedics responded to the gas station and airlifted the child to St. Joseph’s Hospital for life threatening injuries.
Medical staff at the hospital informed detectives that the child suffered a severe brain bleed caused by head trauma. The child remained in critical condition.
Through the investigation, detectives learned that Marquez and the child had been staying at a residence in Palm Harbor. Witnesses told detectives that the child appeared in good health on September, 25, 2019.
Detectives say Marquez was the sole caretaker of child from September 23, 2019, until the medical issue was reported on September 27, 2019.
Detectives interviewed Marquez on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.
During the interview, Marquez gave contradictory statements about how the child was injured.
Marquez admitted to detectives she was at the Palm Harbor residence with the child on Thursday, September 26, 2019, when she became enraged during a phone conversation with the child’s father. She told detectives she intentionally and forcefully jerked the child up from the ground twice causing the child’s head to snap backward.
Marquez said she then placed the child underneath her arm and ran up and down the stairs inside the residence allowing the child’s head to bounce up and down without support.
Marquez admitted to detectives she knew she had been too rough with the child.
Marquez claimed that on the morning of September 27, 2019, she noticed the child was having seizures; however, she tried consoling the child and never sought medical attention.
Detectives say later that afternoon, Marquez took the child to Pasco County to meet the child’s father but stopped at a Mobil Gas Station when the child’s medical condition worsened.
Detectives arrested Marquez and transported her to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
Marquez was charged with one count of Aggravated Child Abuse with Great Bodily Harm.
Marquez booking photo.
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