West Grove resident Enrique Lopez-Gomez has pleaded guilty to murder in the death of a baby he was caring for, closing a case that has weighed on Kennett Township since last summer. Prosecutors say he struck the child in June 2024 and did not get the baby medical help. The child later died at a hospital, and Lopez-Gomez remains in Chester County custody as he awaits sentencing.
How prosecutors say it happened
Prosecutors say Lopez-Gomez, 32, of West Grove, was caring for a nine-month-old on the night of June 24, 2024, when he fell on the child and then punched him after the infant cried. Investigators say he did not report the injuries or seek medical attention. Hours later, first responders found the child unresponsive and took him to a nearby hospital, where staff pronounced him dead. The District Attorney’s Office says Lopez-Gomez pleaded guilty to murder and endangering the welfare of children on Feb. 11, according to Patch, and he is being held at Chester County Prison pending sentencing, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.
Scene and autopsy findings
Emergency crews were dispatched to a home on the 600 block of Cope Road in Kennett Township on June 24, 2024, where relatives carried the injured infant outside wrapped in a blanket, according to investigators. Medical personnel noted white foam around the child’s mouth and nose and visible bruising. The baby was pronounced dead at Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children shortly after midnight. An autopsy later found the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the abdomen, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Prosecutor's response
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe condemned the violence and said investigators concluded that Lopez-Gomez “struck that child” and then failed to obtain medical care. He called the circumstances disturbing and praised the joint work of Kennett Township police and county detectives who handled the investigation. His remarks were quoted by FOX29.
What comes next for Lopez-Gomez
Lopez-Gomez pleaded guilty to murder and endangering the welfare of children on Feb. 11 and will be sentenced in the coming weeks, officials said. At the time of his arrest last June, prosecutors had charged him with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and related counts, and a magistrate set bail at $10 million. Recent coverage by Patch lists the defendant as 32 and the baby as nine months old, while contemporaneous reporting from the time of the arrest described the accused as about 20 and the child as roughly 21 months, according to the Chester County Press.
Broader context
Local prosecutors have pointed to a string of serious child-abuse and neglect cases across Chester County in recent months, saying those investigations have strained available resources. The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported on other recent child-related prosecutions and the county’s broader child-protection concerns.
If you're concerned
Officials have reminded the public that anyone who suspects child abuse should call 911 or Pennsylvania ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. That reminder was included in local coverage of the case, per NBC10 Philadelphia.
