CABAZON -- The stepfather of a 3 year-old boy authorities say was beaten to death at a home in Cabazon was in custody Monday on suspicion of murder.
Jesse Martinez, Jr., 32, faces charges of murder and child abuse causing great bodily, said Sgt. Brian Reno of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies responded to a home in the 14600 block of Cabazon Street after receiving a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Sunday.
Sheriff's spokesman Craig Roberts said the boy -- identified by the county coroner as Ramon Jimenez -- was not breathing and was "severely injured."
Family members told authorities they arrived at the home in the 14000 block of Cabazon Street to find the child bloodied and not breathing.
Jimenez was rushed to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning where he was pronounced dead at 2 a.m., the Riverside County coroner's office said in a written statement.
His injuries indicated he was the victim of a homicide, Reno said.
Martinez was being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
Anyone with information regarding the boy's death was urged to call the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or the Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100.
Jesse Martinez, Jr., 32, faces charges of murder and child abuse causing great bodily, said Sgt. Brian Reno of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies responded to a home in the 14600 block of Cabazon Street after receiving a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Sunday.
Sheriff's spokesman Craig Roberts said the boy -- identified by the county coroner as Ramon Jimenez -- was not breathing and was "severely injured."
Family members told authorities they arrived at the home in the 14000 block of Cabazon Street to find the child bloodied and not breathing.
Jimenez was rushed to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning where he was pronounced dead at 2 a.m., the Riverside County coroner's office said in a written statement.
His injuries indicated he was the victim of a homicide, Reno said.
Martinez was being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
Anyone with information regarding the boy's death was urged to call the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or the Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100.
