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A 23-year-old mother and her 24-year-old boyfriend were arrested in New York for allegedly killing the woman’s 3-year-old son, neglecting and ultimately beating the child to death. Kaitlin Cyrus and Jovannie Vega were taken into custody this week and charged with a spate of violent felonies, including second-degree manslaughter, in the slaying of young Kayden Flowers, authorities confirmed to Law&Crime.
The couple were initially arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 28 and charged with first and second-degree assault as well as first-degree reckless endangerment. The manslaughter charges were added during their Thursday arraignments, which took place shortly after Kayden died.
Jovannie Vega and Kaitlin Cyrus (Massena Police Dept.)
According to a report from the Watertown Daily Times, officers with the Massena Police Department at about 8:37 a.m. on Tuesday responded to a 911 call at a residence located in the 10 block of Francis Street, less than three miles from the St. Lawrence River, which marks the international border between the U.S. and Canada.
Kayden was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Due to the severity of his condition, he was later transported via airlift to the University of Vermont Medical Center.
In a written statement, Massena Police Detective Michael J. O’Brien reportedly determined that about two days before the 911 call, Vega had picked up the little boy and threw him into a wall in his bedroom. The 24-year-old is then accused of picking up the little boy and slamming him down onto the floor multiple times.
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Kayden suffered a broken arm, broken leg, lacerated liver, and “severe swelling” and bleeding in the brain that led to a complete loss of brain function, Carthage, New York, CBS affiliate WWNY reported. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, Kayden succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:02 a.m. on Thursday.
Court documents reportedly accuse Cyrus, the victim’s biological mother, of permitting her boyfriend to “engage in ongoing physical abuse” of her son, and further allege that she “failed to seek aid and did not seek medical attention for said child for approximately 48 hours” after Vega allegedly inflicted the fatal injuries on Kayden.
The actions of Vega and Cyrus “ultimately caused the death of the three-year-old victim,” Det. O’Brien reportedly wrote in his statement.
“I’m in my 20th year of law enforcement and this was the worst case I’ve ever seen,” Massena Police Chief Jason Olson reportedly told WWNY.
Both defendants reportedly pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments in front of Massena Town Justice Joseph Brown. They are currently being held in St. Lawrence County Jail without bond.
Police reportedly said that there were no complaints of child abuse were made against either defendant before this week’s allegations.
Additional charges are likely to be filed against Vega and Cyrus when authorities complete their preliminary investigation, Det. O’Brien reportedly wrote.
