Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department Major Crimes Division – Homicide Section have arrested Jonathan Navarrete-Turcious, age 30, and Blanca Rosa Reyes, age 24, both of the 11800 block of Charles Road in Wheaton, for the murder and child abuse of their two-year-old son.
On February 13, detectives responded to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring to investigate the death of 2-year-old Matthew Navarrete-Reyes. Blanca Reyes, Matthew’s mother, told detectives that at approximately 2:40 a.m., she found her son moaning and unable to support himself in his crib. Reyes and Navarrete-Turcious arrived at Holy Cross Hospital at 4:17 a.m.
Detectives also learned that Matthew had suffered multiple traumas in the weeks preceding his death. The parents stated that the traumas came from several falls Matthew had in the home – they did not seek any medical treatment for him. Reyes further told detectives that she struck Matthew in the mouth as a punishment approximately four or five days prior to his death.
On June 11, The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) ruled Matthew’s death a homicide and the cause of death was determined to be dehydration with oral trauma and pneumonia. The Medical Examiner noted that the prolonged lack of reasonable medical care to address a serious injury and the severity of the dehydration was evidence of neglect.
Three other male children, ages 3, 4 and 5 at the time of this incident, were removed from the home and placed into the custody of Child Protective Services.
Detectives consulted with the State’s Attorney’s Office and obtained arrest warrants for Matthew’s parents once the death was ruled a homicide by the Medical Examiner.
Navarrete-Turcious and Reyes were arrested on August 13 and charged with second degree murder, neglect of a minor, and two counts of child abuse. Bond information for Navarrete-Turcious and Reyes is not available at this time.
