A 4-week-old baby girl in Mesa, Arizona, is dead after her father allegedly punched her in the face for “crying too much.” On August 6, 2025, Mesa police arrested Jonathan Enriquez, 22, He was charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.
The arrest came after police responded to a call on July 11 about a baby who was not breathing, Arizona’s Family reported. When officers arrived, the infant was unresponsive and was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
At the hospital, the baby girl was found to have a fractured skull and brain bleed, as well as bruises around her eyes. She died on July 26.
An autopsy revealed the newborn’s injuries were a result of “slamming, crushing, or stomping,” and it went on to describe the severity as “catastrophic,” according to court papers, per KPHO.
The parents’ stories about what happened were not consistent, according to police. They reportedly claimed the baby fell off a bed. Additionally, Enriquez told investigators he had been “quite forceful” while changing his daughter’s diaper, Arizona’s Family reported. He claimed the baby would hit herself in the face and admitted “frustration,” but he denied that he hit the infant.
Initially, the parents also claimed the infant choked while she was being fed with a bottle. Two other explanations Enriquez gave authorities included that the baby fell out of a car seat and into a stroller and that the baby got hit with a buckle from a seat belt, according to KPHO.
Ultimately, investigators discovered that Enriquez texted the mother, who left for work, that she had to come home immediately. He told her the baby wasn’t breathing and that he “messed up,” per Arizona’s Family.
Mesa police officers interviewed Enriquez again August 6, when he allegedly confessed to punching his daughter on the left side of her head. Reportedly, the baby had been “crying too much” in her bassinet, per KPHO. He also allegedly admitted to swaddling the infant tightly in an attempt to get her to stop crying.
Enriquez was being held on a $1 million bond. Per Arizona’s Family, he reportedly shared “deep remorse” and was ashamed of his behavior, according to court documents. It is not yet clear if the baby’s mother will face any charges.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
