In a heartrending case that has sent shockwaves through North Miami Beach, Cynthia Hernandez, a 33-year-old mother, has been arrested on multiple charges including child neglect and providing false information to law enforcement, as reported by Local 10 News. The arrest is in connection with the brutal beating of her 6-year-old autistic son, Mason, who is still hospitalized following the incident.
Bringing further gravity to the case, Mason was found to have suffered severe injuries consistent with a beating. After being placed in a medically induced coma, the boy's health showed signs of improvement when his grandmother, Elizabeth Garcia, reported that he opened his eyes – a moment described as "the most amazing, powerful," according to her statement obtained by Local 10 News. Despite the positive steps in his recovery, the nature and extent of his injuries paint a grim picture of what he endured.
Earlier, in a separate report by WSVN, it was stated that Hernandez had turned herself in and faces charges after her son sustained life-threatening injuries at the hands of her boyfriend, Daniel Romero. Romero, 34, was previously arrested on January 11 and charged with the actual assault, which left the boy with severe trauma necessitating intensive care.
Garcia, who now has temporary custody of Mason and Hernandez's other two young children, was given hope by the community's support as they rallied around her grandson. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help alleviate the family's medical expenses following the tragic incident. To reflect on the mother's arrest, her attorney Hugo Apellaniz released a statement, which he told Local 10 News: “We are extremely disappointed that the N.M.B. (North Miami Beach) Police Department has decided to arrest and press charges against a mother who is nothing more than a victim. People are not perfect, but this is a dire mistake.” Apellaniz advocates for his client's innocence, positioning her as another victim of Romero's actions.
As of the latest updates, Cynthia Hernandez is being detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with her bond yet to be set.
