Jose Avila-Agurcia, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee is charged with first-degree murder in perpetration of aggravated child abuse over the death of four-month-old Alexander Lizondro-Chacon. Police were called to the family home on April 12 and found the boy’s mother Mercy Lizondro-Chacon, who said her son was having trouble breathing. Medics then rushed him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the head.
A court affidavit, cited by numerous US media outlets, reveals the pair said they had no idea how the boy, who also had pneumonia, as well as a fractured skull and rib, sustained his injuries.
However police say the mother told detectives that Mr Avila-Agurcia became enraged when learned he wasn’t the boy’s father.
Throughout the pregnancy, Mr Avila-Agurcia believed he was the baby’s father and it is said he snapped when confronted with the news he was not related to the boy.
The Shelby County medical examiner has ruled the boy’s death as a homicide.
Mr Avila-Agurcia, who is currently being held in jail without bond, is expected to make his initial court appearance on Thursday.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Bryan D Cox said Avila-Agurcia is an alias for Carlos Zuniga-Aviles and he is a Honduran national.
Mr Avila-Agurcia is being held at a county jail and it is unknown whether he has an attorney.