Man Sentenced For Abuse, Death Of Infant Son (Photos)

A man from Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for abusing his 3-month-old son to the point of death.

Isaac Hernandez was sentenced following what the judge called “the saddest and worst” case of child abuse he’d seen in his more than 30-year career. Prosecutor Erica Kallin spoke of the abuse in court, saying baby Sylys Hernandez had 26 rib fractures, two broken legs, bruises on his face, wrists, penis and hands, dehydration, and a torn frenulum from being punched in the face.

An autopsy showed the injuries were sustained over a period of time, rather than from a single beating.

“In those three short months, we’re talking about a child who knew nothing but pain, suffering and hunger,” Kallin said. 

The baby’s mother was in prison for a meth conviction at the time of his birth, so Hernandez got custody. He reportedly received offers from family and friends to help care for the child, but he refused to accept it. 

Hernandez would regularly make up excuses for bruises or visible injuries the baby had when people would inquire. One friend said he saw the father push Sylys’ face into a blanket to quiet him. 

The abuse was reported in November 2014, but caseworkers closed the investigation — without ever seeing the child — after ruling the allegations were unfounded. Sylys died one month later.

“Society demands justice in this case,” Kallin said. “We have a child who, because he’s passed, cannot be protected in the future. But he is somebody who can have justice, and his death isn’t meaningless.”

Hernandez was charged with abusing his son but wasn’t charged for his death, as authorities were unable to determine whether the child died from suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome.

“I can conclude that this defendant was responsible for nearly three months of misery in this infant child’s life, misery and pain,” Judge George Southworth said following the sentencing. 

Many readers called for the father to receive a harsher punishment for his disturbing actions.

“I hope karma gets him soon, but doesn’t have mercy and die, just close enough to suffer terribly, but don’t let death take him,” one Mad World News reader commented on the site’s Facebook page. “Not until he has suffered what that infant suffered .. than send him to hell where he belongs.”

“Disgusting pig!” another wrote. “Child and animal abusers need to have eye for an eye punishment! There is no justice any other way! That poor baby suffered horrendous injuries & pain and even authorities who received reports about it and ignored it should have been charged! What good are groups like CPS when they refuse to take complaints seriously until proven otherwise!”

“The Child Services that refused to investigate should be held responsible for baby’s death,” commented another. “To see evil and not call it evil is to sin. A baby has no defenses. They rely on us for everything and to betray that trust is a sin.”

Sources: KTVB, Mad World News/Facebook / Photo credit: Pixabay, Paul Boehlke/KTVB