A Long Beach man who previously served time in prison for felony child abuse was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of torturing and murdering his 14-month-old daughter, authorities said.
The toddler’s father, Alfredo Munoz, 40, and stepmother, Kelly Munoz, 34, were taken into custody in the 200 block of East Lewis Street in connection with the child’s death, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Police initially went to the hospital on Nov. 7 and found the toddler unresponsive and showing signs of severe trauma, police said. She was put on life support and died three days later. Her identity is being withheld.
During the two-week investigation, homicide detectives determined the toddler was the victim of ongoing abuse and that her death was a direct result of abuse by her father and stepmother, police said.
Both suspects are being held at the Long Beach Jail without bail, and detectives plan to file the case with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office next week.
Alfredo Munoz was previously sentenced to four years in prison in December 2021 after he pleaded no contest to one count of willful child abuse resulting in possible injury or death, according to court records.
A law enforcement source confirmed that the man charged in a previous Long Beach abuse case is the same man arrested Tuesday. The source requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case with the media.
Munoz had been released from custody at the time of the alleged abuse of the deceased toddler.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Homicide Dets. Ethan Shear and Kelsey Myers at (562) 570-7244. To make an anonymous report, call (800) 222-8477 or visit www.lacrimestopers.org.
