Father charged with murder for allegedly inflicting 'blunt force trauma' on 4-month-old
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA: The Oklahoma City Police Department has arrested a man who allegedly killed his infant son and confessed to being responsible for the child's death.
Following the arrest, the accused, identified as 36-year-old Duwuan Betancourt, has been formally charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death of his 4-month-old son, Quinn Betancourt.
Oklahoma police reported to call regarding an infant who was not breathing
On March 5th, 2024, the Oklahoma City Police Department received emergency calls regarding an infant who was not breathing at an apartment complex in northwest Oklahoma City, the department stated in a Friday release.
The child was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter, as Law&Crime reported.
During the investigation, detectives found that the child had sustained injuries consistent with child abuse.
Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued for 36-year-old Duwuan Betancourt, who was subsequently taken into custody and booked on a murder charge.
According to reports, Betancourt stated that he had placed his baby in a swing for a nap around 12:30 pm.
He confessed to authorities that he had neglected to check on the child until 3:45 pm, at which point he discovered the baby cold and unresponsive.
Reportedly, Betancourt then sent a text to his wife at 4:18 pm, containing only her name. Five minutes later, he allegedly contacted the police.
Despite efforts, the infant was pronounced dead upon arrival at the emergency room.
What did Duwuan Betancourt report?
While at the ER, Betancourt allegedly expressed, "It's all my fault." Oklahoma City police concluded that the child had "suffered injuries consistent with child abuse."
When asked about the possibility of the baby having skull fractures, Betancourt purportedly informed the police that the child had rolled off the couch onto a foam mat a few days earlier.
He also mentioned that he had occasionally sat on the mat and fallen backward himself.
However, the medical examiner determined that the child had endured "blunt force trauma," as per the report.
A doctor reportedly informed the police that the child's injuries indicated "slamming on a hard surface" and asserted that the child "would have succumbed within five minutes of sustaining such injuries."
Although the infant died in March, it was not until Friday, April 12, that the Oklahoma City police revealed Betancourt's arrest.
“The Oklahoma City Police Department Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT) with assistance from the United States Marshals Service arrested 36-year old Duwuan Betancourt on a complaint of Murder-1 (infant) on April 11, 2024,” stated in a Facebook post.
Records from the Oklahoma County Detention Center indicate that Betancourt was apprehended on Thursday and is currently detained with a $5 million bond.
