A Houston woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of her 2-month-old son in 2023. Gabriela Elyzabeth Deras, 22, faces a murder charge after the infant was found unresponsive, at a residence on Long Drive. An autopsy report led to the conclusion that the child's death was a homicide. Deras was taken into custody without incident on August 2 and is currently held, according to the City of Houston.
Houston Police Department responded to a call at around 3:25 p.m. on August 8, 2023, finding the infant, identified as Ethan Rosa Deras, after he had been left in a vehicle for an extended period. Despite efforts by medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital, the manner of death was later determined to be homicide, by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
The incident investigation was led by HPD Homicide Detectives A. Graf and E. Torres. It became a point of heartbreaking interest in the local community, raising concerns about child safety in vehicles during hot weather. In a press release, the Houston Police Department provided details of the response where family members discovered Ethan unresponsive and sought help.
Details surrounding the case are not entirely clear, but the suspect's arrest one year after the event suggests a protracted investigation. The Harris County District Attorney's office, after being contacted, decided to file charges against Deras, who is the child’s mother. “HPD patrol officers responded to a meet-the-firefighter call at the above address and learned the infant was left in a vehicle for some time before he was discovered, unresponsive, by family members,” indicated an official statement obtained by the City of Houston.
The case is ongoing, and further details will be shared as they are made available by the authorities. Deras's charge in the 262nd State District Court marks a significant development, in a story that has deeply affected the Long Drive community. The Houston Police Department has not released additional comments on the arrest or the investigation at this time.
