Caregiver charged with murder after 2-year-old boy dies

Friday, March 7, 2008

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

The caregiver of a 2-year-old boy who died last week is now facing murder charges, Newton police said.

Armando Hernandez Martinez was charged Thursday in the killing of Ethan Miguel Gibbs, who died Feb. 28 after a day in critical condition, said Sgt. Tracey Cline of the Newton Police Department.

The boy, Cline said, had a fractured skull, swelling and bleeding of the brain and bruises and cuts across his body. He also had what appeared to be human bite marks on his body. Cline would not say where he had been bitten.

Before Ethan died, Martinez, 27, had been charged with felony child abuse after the Catawba County Department of Social Services reported the child's injuries to police.

Martinez, who is not related to Ethan, was being held without bond Thursday at the Catawba County jail.

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