OKC toddler covered in bruises before death
A 3-year-old boy who police say suffered abuse before he died Monday night was covered in bruises when he was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital emergency room, according to police. Elias Mendoza was unresponsive when officers found him about 7 p.m. at 2940 SW 21. He was taken to OU Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His father Jesus Marquez, 28, was arrested and jailed Monday night. A police officer reported Elias had bruises on his feet, hip, legs and back, and he had a bump on his forehead. He also had a gash under his chin, according to an arrest warrant filed in Oklahoma County District Court. The boy had signs of being abused before Monday as well, detective Matthew Guy reported in the the warrant. “Some of the bruising looked more recent than the others which indicates they occurred at different times,” Guy reported. Family members Monday night told police that Elias had fallen off the porch and then walked into the kitchen where he collapsed, Guy reported. Marquez admitted that he had caused bruising by squeezing his son too hard when Elias threw himself down in the shower, Guy reported. Marquez told police he did not know why Elias died. Marquez remained in the Oklahoma County jail Wednesday without bail, a jailer said. The state medical examiner had not ruled on a cause of death Wednesday, a spokeswoman said. Detectives were continuing to investigate the boy's death. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 405-235-7300.