Background: A portion of the 3400 block of Lake Street in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia (Google Maps). Inset: Misael Lopez Gomez (Fairfax County Police Department).
A Virginia father is facing murder and child abuse charges after authorities say he fatally beat his 3-month-old daughter, then waited about an hour before calling 911.
Misael Lopez Gomez, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the infant’s death, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on March 31. He is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and appeared in court on Wednesday.
Police said the case began on March 27, when officers were called around 7:30 p.m. to the 3400 block of Lake Street in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, for a report of an “unresponsive infant.” The community sits roughly 8 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.
When officers arrived, they found the baby girl was not breathing. Police and emergency medical personnel provided care before she was transported to a local hospital.
The infant was later pronounced dead. According to police, an autopsy listed the preliminary cause of death as blunt force trauma. Investigators said the child had been in Lopez Gomez’s care at the time, and that “detectives and hospital staff observed evidence consistent with abuse.”
Lopez Gomez was arrested and booked into jail as detectives continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Authorities this week disclosed additional allegations about what they say happened inside the home.
During an interview three days after police were called, Lopez Gomez allegedly told investigators he punched his daughter four times because he was “angry” about life and work, according to testimony reported by regional CBS affiliate WUSA. He allegedly said the baby became unresponsive after the second punch.
After the attack, Lopez Gomez reportedly tried to resuscitate his child and called his cousin and uncle into the room for help. The three are said to have then waited approximately an hour before calling 911.
There were also signs of previous injuries, Fairfax County Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Megan Kessler testified. The girl had calluses on her ribs, showing signs of a previous fracture.
Lopez Gomez’s defense attorney apparently argued that the child was with a babysitter earlier on the day in question and that his alleged punches did not kill the girl. The victim’s mother sat in the courtroom as details and allegations were shared, with Lopez Gomez himself solemn, per the local outlet.
Lopez Gomez is known to federal authorities. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he “admitted that he illegally crossed the United States Southern Border in July 2023 near Albuquerque, New Mexico.” The agency said that after his arrest on the murder charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an immigration detainer on Lopez Gomez to prevent his release from custody.
“This cold-blooded killer murdered his own three-month-old daughter. We are calling on Governor Spanberger to commit to not releasing this barbaric animal from jail into Virginia communities,” said then-acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis at the time. “This monster should have never been allowed in our country.”
