A 2-year-old San Juan Bautista boy was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead after what investigators say was a strangling, and a local man is now under arrest following a multi-agency search that spilled into Merced County. Detectives say they ultimately obtained a confession from the suspect, according to SanBenito.com.
The scene and the arrest
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, deputies responded to the 100 block of The Alameda for a report of a baby not breathing. A 34-year-old woman told them she had been jolted awake by her boyfriend allegedly trying to strangle her; she said she got away and then discovered her 2-year-old son on a couch, unresponsive. Deputies and paramedics tried to revive the child with CPR before he was rushed to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, where he was later pronounced dead. Physical evidence at the home led investigators to conclude the boy had been strangled. What followed was a manhunt that extended into Merced County and ended after a vehicle pursuit with the arrest of Adrian Lujan, with detectives later saying they obtained a confession, according to SanBenito.com.
What investigators say
"Our office would like to thank the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office, our allied Merced County partners and the California Highway Patrol for their attention to this case," Sheriff Eric Taylor said in the department’s release. "We mourn the loss of the beautiful child and will pursue justice for him and his family." Investigators say they have not yet identified a motive, and the case remains very much active, as reported by SanBenito.com.
What's next
No formal charging documents have been posted so far. The San Benito County District Attorney’s Office will review the investigation and decide what charges to file. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the sheriff’s tip line at (831) 636-4084, and the county notes that local Victim Witness services are available to families, per San Benito County. Officials also stress that arrests are not convictions, and that the DA will make any charging decisions after investigators finish gathering evidence.
Resources for families
Neighbors and families left reeling by the case can turn to both local and national crisis hotlines for support. For immediate, confidential help related to child abuse or neglect, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline operates 24/7 at 1-800-422-4453 and via online chat, according to Childhelp. Anyone who may have information relevant to the investigation is urged to contact the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office tip line listed above.
