Destini Rose Lipsky apparently had a hard time disciplining her 4-year-old son. Lipsky, 23, enlisted the help of a friend she considered to be more like a brother to help her get the child’s behavior under control. Alexander Martinez-Armstrong, 24, allegedly agreed to help and inflicted harsh “boot camp”-style punishments on the child. On May 23, 2026, police in Aurora, Colorado, responded to a residence after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. When they arrived just after 10 p.m., emergency responders rushed the child to a hospital, but he died a short time later.
The little boy reportedly had severe injuries related to abuse.
According to a news release from the Aurora Police Department posted on social media, when police arrived at an apartment in the 14100 block of East Tennessee Avenue, they found the little boy, identified online as Xander, unconscious and not breathing. Martinez-Armstrong reportedly admitted to striking the child prior to his death, leading to his arrest. But it was what the police found later that truly shocked them: Lipsky allegedly approved and encouraged the abuse.
Lipsky reportedly willingly handed over her son to Martinez-Armstrong.
Lipsky allegedly arranged with Martinez-Armstrong to help her discipline Xander, according to court documents obtained by the Denver Post. The 4-year-old allegedly had a habit of “repeatedly lying to her, sneaking into her purse, not listening to her, and occasionally stealing candy,” the affidavit states. She apparently wanted “boot camp” style punishment to help straighten Xander out. Martinez-Armstrong is reportedly a friend of the child’s father.
The little boy had multiple injuries in different stages of healing.
Martinez-Armstrong’s girlfriend reportedly told investigators she could hear the child’s screams from a different room as her boyfriend beat him. Lipsky allegedly told the man he could use the same punishments she inflicted on Xander. Lipsky admitted to spanking and whipping the boy and making him do push-ups, planks, and wall sits, per the Post. Martinez-Armstrong allegedly told police that the 4-year-old received the most discipline on May 23. The day Xander died, he claimed he had hit him with a belt at least 21 times.
Police arrested Martinez-Armstrong, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, the Post reported. Lipsky faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
Xander’s death has upset the community.
Many people shared and commented on the police department’s Facebook post.
“This man was my nephews god father…this wasn’t some random guy , or some random boyfriend that he was left with… he’s the one person who was trusted to guide him , love him & protect him if anything ever happened to his parents,” one comment reads. “imagine losing your child in the most horrific way & she sees yalls hateful & distasteful comments about her as a mother. stop asking about the mom , it’s not her fault.”
Others think Martinez-Armstrong will get what’s coming to him in prison if he’s convicted.
“I just got out of DOC; the surenos will probably end up taking care of that dude depending on where he lands. Might not be right away but believe me when I say it’s an extremely small world in there,” a former inmate wrote.
One person had a different idea in mind. “Let us real mothers alone in a room with him for 5 mins,” the commenter wrote.
If Lipsky truly gave her child to Martinez-Armstrong for a punishment boot camp, they both should spend the rest of their lives in prison. He was 4 years old … a baby. Kids misbehave, but adults need to guide and teach them, not harm them. Xander never had a chance.
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.
