12-Year Old Boy Charged With Murder In Toddler's Death
JACKSONVILLE (CBS4) – A 12-year old Jacksonville boy will be tried as an adult in the murder of his two-year old brother.
Cristian Fernandez is the youngest person ever charged with first degree murder in the city. The family recently moved to Jacksonville from Miami.
State prosecutors believe Fernandez shoved his little brother into a bookcase and then beat him while their mother was not home. Fernandez's two year old brother suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain.
The boy's trial is scheduled to begin in February, but it may not come to that.
"I'm optimistic we'll work out a deal where we can protect the community and take a chance on rehabilitation for Cristian," said Angela Corey with the state attorney's office.
The boys' mother also faces charges in her son's death. Police said 25-year old Biannela Susana first told them her son got her in a fall. According to her arrest report, she put ice on the boy's injuries and then looked up concussions on the internet, only calling for help hours later.
Susana is charged with aggravated manslaughter.
