Joshua Ruiz-Martinez, a 32-year-old father from Central Florida, has been arrested on charges of aggravated manslaughter following the drowning death of his infant daughter. According to a news release by WESH, the arrest comes nearly a year after the April 21, 2024, incident in St. Cloud, Florida, where the child was left unattended in a bathtub filled with water. Ruiz-Martinez, the primary caregiver while his partner worked, reportedly placed his daughter in the tub to briefly retrieve a bottle due to her fussiness. However, she was later found face-down and unresponsive.
Investigation into the events of that fateful day revealed discrepancies between Ruiz-Martinez's initial account and digital evidence. Deputies were able to confirm that Ruiz-Martinez had been actively engaged in a computer game at the time his daughter required his attention. This information, obtained through game timestamps, contradicted his earlier statements. "I killed my daughter for a game? Please tell me I did not kill my daughter for a game," Ruiz-Martinez emotionally uttered when confronted with the evidence, as mentioned in the arrest warrant and reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
The child's drowning was initially deemed accidental by the Orange/Osceola County Medical Examiner's Office. However, further scrutiny brought to light the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. Ruiz-Martinez, described in the warrant as generally dividing his time between caring for his child and playing video games, admitted to the authorities his responsibility for the death.
Ruiz-Martinez resides in the Osceola County Jail, awaiting trial, with no bond set.
