Arkansas boy, 6, dies of infection after being raped by father with a stick for eating cake without permission
BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS: A man who allegedly killed his 6-year-old son by raping him with a stick could be facing the death penalty if he is found guilty.
Mauricio Torres, 50, will appear at the Benton County Circuit Court in Arkansas for a retrial over the death of his son, Maurice 'Isaiah' Torres. The child reportedly passed away due to septic shock after being very brutally violated during a camping trip to Missouri in 2015.
It is believed that the child was beaten up by Torres for eating a piece of cake without taking permission. As reported by Arkansas Online, little Maurice passed away at a Bella Vista medical clinic near his home. According to a medical examiner who testified in the original trial, Maurice's death was caused by a bacterial infection resulting from sodomy.
Torres has been charged with capital murder and battery and has pleaded not guilty to the charges made against him. Both the state prosecutors and defense team have the child's mother, Cathy Torres, on their witness lists. Cathy had pleaded guilty in March 2017 and was sentenced to life in prison.
Before Maurice died, the Arkansas Department of Human Services was contacted at least two times regarding the possible abuse of Maurice. However, the case was filed as 'unsubstantiated'.
Torres was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in November 2016, but the conviction was overturned due to a technicality. The same witnesses who had been called to the first trial are expected to be present in the second trial as well. A Bella Vista paramedic will also testify as he was the one to respond to the 911 call on the fateful day.
Torres is presently being held without bail in the Benton County jail. Benton County prosecutor Nathan Smith shared, "This is a story of abuse, torture, and murder of six-year-old Isaiah… he suffered chronic child abuse syndrome."