PARENTS INDICTED FOR MURDER IN THE DEATH OF 7 YEAR OLD SON

Posted on 8/26/2020

Defendant: Oneida Fabiola Maldonado-Cortez and Jose Emanuel Santos-Perez

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien stated, “This young boy was brutally beaten while in the care of his parents.”  O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned indictments on Oneida Fabiola Maldonado-Cortez, age 24, and Jose Emanuel Santos-Perez, age 37.  Both the mother and step-father were indicted for one count of Murder, one count of Felonious Assault, and three counts of Endangering Children for the ongoing abuse of the 7 year old and his younger 2 year old brother that occurred between December 1, 2019 through May 23, 2020.  On May 23^rd at approximately 8:15 pm, officers and medics were dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of Azelda Street on a call about a child that may have drowned in the bathtub.  Medics transported the 7 year old boy to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.       Maldonado-Cortez and Santos-Perez were previously indicted on June 2, 2020 for the Felonious Assault and Endangering Children counts included in today’s indictment.  “Upon receiving the Coroner’s report, the 7 year old’s death has been ruled a homicide due to complications of multiple blunt force and burn injuries,”  O’Brien stated.            Arraignment for both defendants is set for Friday, August 28^th, 2020  at 1:00 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 South High Street in downtown Columbus.