Two Utah parents have been arrested after their 3-month-old son died while they allegedly slept following a night of drinking whiskey and using marijuana. The infant was the second child to die while in their care in the past two years.

Christina Joy Patton, 39, and Nicholas Patrick Romero, 40, were booked Wednesday morning on suspicion of child abuse homicide. Police had gone to their home in Bluffdale, roughly 20 miles south of Salt Lake City, after receiving reports of an unresponsive baby.

Officers found the couple’s son, Atreyu Nick Romero, dead. Empty alcohol containers and drug paraphernalia were scattered around the room where he had reportedly been sleeping, according to a police affidavit reported by KUTV.

Investigators alleged that Patton and Romero had been drinking alcohol and using marijuana before falling asleep in the same bed as Atreyu, KUTV reported.

According to the police report, both parents acknowledged that they had been co-sleeping with their son, who was positioned between them in the bed.

The booking affidavits stated that the baby had been swaddled and placed in a nursing pillow between his parents.

Patton told police that Atreyu began crying at about 1 a.m. She said she removed him from the pillow, unwrapped his swaddle and held him in her arms, KSL reported.

At 5:15 a.m., Romero woke and found the infant pale, unresponsive and not breathing. He began CPR and called 911.

“Pink-colored fluid or matter was observed coming from the infant’s nose and mouth during CPR,” the affidavits stated.

“Officers observed multiple empty alcohol containers on or near the bedside table adjacent to the bed where the infant had reportedly been sleeping.”

The affidavits also alleged that police found drug paraphernalia at the residence that morning.

Romero told investigators that he had consumed four or five shots of whiskey and used marijuana that evening, according to KUTV. The outlet reported that he declined to take a breathalyzer test.

Patton did take a breathalyzer test, which recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.011 percent. She also told police that she had taken her prescribed Adderall and buprenorphine earlier that day, KUTV reported.

The couple is also facing a pending case linked to a 2024 incident involving their 3-month-old daughter, Catherine Irene Romero. She was found dead, but the cause of her death has not been publicly clarified, according to KUTV.

The children, now deceased, were born almost exactly two years apart. Both passed away at three months old, as well. 

In a Facebook post celebrating her late son Atreyu’s birth, Patton wrote: ‘Feel like he was handpicked by his big sister in heaven and made sure she had her own day to celebrate her.’

Angel Carrasco, a father accused of pushing his estranged girlfriend from a 15th-floor New York City balcony as she held their eight-month-old daughter, appeared to smirk while being led away by police.

Carrasco, 31, was arrested on Wednesday by US Marshals and NYPD officers.

The arrest came one day after 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez fell from her Bronx apartment in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Authorities allege that Carrasco shoved Ramirez from the balcony while she was holding their daughter, who is also named Angel.

Video recorded during Carrasco’s arrest appeared to show him grinning as officers escorted him away.

He tilted his head from side to side, smiling and laughing, before officers placed him inside a vehicle.

Residents and emergency responders found Ramirez and her infant badly injured after the fall. Both were taken to a hospital.

Doctors were unable to save Ramirez. Her baby survived but remains in critical condition.

Investigators say Carrasco had gone to Ramirez’s home in an effort to repair their relationship.

The attempted reconciliation allegedly turned into a terrifying confrontation after Ramirez rejected his efforts to reunite. Carrasco is accused of losing his temper and pushing her and their baby.

He allegedly fled afterward, leaving behind a bouquet of flowers he had brought for Ramirez.

Carrasco remained missing while detectives worked to reconstruct the events. On Wednesday, the NYPD issued a wanted poster featuring a disturbing image that appeared to show him handling a large kitchen knife inside an elevator.

US Marshals and NYPD officers located and arrested him several hours later.

‘This horrific tragedy weighs heavily on every team member who worked this case,’ US Marshal Ricky J Patel said. ‘We owed it to the brave mother who gave her life to save her child from a vicious individual.’

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He added: ‘While nothing can undo this terrible loss, taking this suspect off the street ensures he will answer for his alleged heinous actions.’

The arrest has also renewed scrutiny of Carrasco’s alleged history of violence involving Ramirez.

According to law enforcement sources, the couple had already been at the center of two domestic incidents earlier this year.

On January 5, Carrasco was accused of slapping Ramirez and leaving her bruised after she confronted him about communicating with an ex-girlfriend.

Three days later, the suspected shover was arrested again following another dispute. Sources said the estranged boyfriend was accused of breaking into Ramirez’s apartment and waiting for her inside, leading to a burglary charge.

That case was later sealed.

Carrasco was also accused of previously sending threatening text messages to another former girlfriend, according to sources.

His record includes at least two other arrests dating back to 2016 involving allegations of false impersonation and marijuana possession.

The final moments before Tuesday’s tragedy were heard by residents inside the 18-story building at 2550 Olinville Avenue. Tenant Robin Mendzies recalled hearing a man’s voice cutting through the building, followed by the sickening sound of the fall.

‘Jump!’ the male voice allegedly shouted, Mendzies said. Then came a huge thud, followed by the horrific sound of a woman crying, ‘No please, no!’

‘It sounded like she was begging for an inevitable thing not to happen,’ Mendzies recalled.

A tiny diaper and baby onesie lay strewn near the scene.

Police officers and emergency workers crowded the area as the tragedy unfolded, while residents looked on.

By Wednesday, the frantic activity had given way to a makeshift memorial for Ramirez. Candles flickered outside the building beside arrays of bouquets and a photograph of the young mother. An ‘October is Domestic Violence Month’ poster stood among the tributes, adding another poignant layer to the gathering.

Friends remembered Ramirez as a young woman whose world revolved around her baby. Her high school friend Dominique Rosado described Ramirez to the Post as a devoted mother and suggested that even in the terrifying final moments of her life, her instinct was to protect her daughter.

‘In the last moment of her life, she was protecting her daughter,’ Rosado said. “That’s what it means to be a mother. She was a good mother.’

A 31-year-old father accused of pushing his estranged girlfriend from a 15th-floor Bronx balcony as she held their eight-month-old daughter has been arrested.

Angel Carrasco was taken into custody on Wednesday by US Marshals and officers from the New York Police Department.

The arrest came one day after 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez fell from her Bronx apartment early Tuesday morning.

Carrasco allegedly shoved Ramirez over the balcony while she was carrying their daughter, who is also named Angel.

Residents and emergency crews found Ramirez and the baby critically injured below the building. Both were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Doctors were unable to save Ramirez. Her infant daughter survived the fall but remains in critical condition.

Investigators say the alleged attack occurred after Carrasco visited Ramirez in an effort to repair their relationship.

The attempted reconciliation allegedly turned into a frightening confrontation after Ramirez rejected Carrasco’s efforts to reunite. He is accused of losing his temper and pushing the young mother and their baby.

Carrasco allegedly fled after the incident, leaving behind a bouquet of flowers he had brought for Ramirez.

He remained at large while detectives worked to reconstruct the events. On Wednesday, the NYPD issued a wanted poster featuring a disturbing image that appeared to show Carrasco handling a large kitchen knife inside an elevator.

Several hours later, US Marshals and NYPD officers located Carrasco and arrested him.

‘This horrific tragedy weighs heavily on every team member who worked this case,’ US Marshal Ricky J Patel said. ‘We owed it to the brave mother who gave her life to save her child from a vicious individual.’

He continued: ‘While nothing can undo this terrible loss, taking this suspect off the street ensures he will answer for his alleged heinous actions.’

The arrest has also renewed scrutiny of Carrasco’s alleged history of violence involving Ramirez.

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Law enforcement sources said the estranged couple had already been involved in two domestic incidents earlier this year.

On January 5, Carrasco was accused of slapping Ramirez and leaving her bruised after she confronted him about communicating with a former girlfriend.

Three days later, Carrasco was arrested again after another dispute. Sources said he was accused of breaking into Ramirez’s apartment and waiting inside, resulting in a burglary charge.

That case was later sealed.

Carrasco was also accused of previously sending threatening text messages to another former girlfriend, according to sources.

His record includes at least two other arrests dating back to 2016 involving allegations of false impersonation and marijuana possession.

The final moments before Tuesday’s tragedy were heard by residents inside the 18-story building at 2550 Olinville Avenue. Tenant Robin Mendzies recalled hearing a man’s voice cutting through the building, followed by the sickening sound of the fall.

‘Jump!’ the male voice allegedly shouted, Mendzies said. Then came a huge thud, followed by the horrific sound of a woman crying, ‘No please, no!’

‘It sounded like she was begging for an inevitable thing not to happen,’ Mendzies recalled.

A tiny diaper and baby onesie lay strewn near the scene.

Police officers and emergency workers crowded the area as the tragedy unfolded, while residents looked on.

By Wednesday, the frantic activity had given way to a makeshift memorial for Ramirez. Candles flickered outside the building beside arrays of bouquets and a photograph of the young mother. An ‘October is Domestic Violence Month’ poster stood among the tributes, adding another poignant layer to the gathering.

Friends remembered Ramirez as a young woman whose world revolved around her baby. Her high school friend Dominique Rosado described Ramirez to the Post as a devoted mother and suggested that even in the terrifying final moments of her life, her instinct was to protect her daughter.

‘In the last moment of her life, she was protecting her daughter,’ Rosado said. “That’s what it means to be a mother. She was a good mother.’

Scientists say Nicaragua’s “Mouth of Hell” volcano could be showing early signs of renewed activity.

Researchers have detected evidence that two magma chambers beneath the active Masaya volcano are being replenished.

Masaya lies only 13 miles (20km) from Managua, Nicaragua’s capital, home to around two million people.

The volcano also draws thousands of visitors each year, many hoping to glimpse the glowing lava inside its Santiago crater—a dramatic feature behind its ominous nickname.

Because of its location and persistent activity, the possibility of an eruption remains a serious concern. A new study has now identified signs of movement deep beneath the volcano.

The researchers found no evidence of an immediate threat, but their results indicate that the magma system beneath the “Mouth of Hell” is more intricate than previously believed.

Mapping the network of underground magma channels and reservoirs could help scientists recognize the changes that may signal an approaching eruption.

Lead researcher Lizzie Johnson of Penn State University said: “Having a thorough understanding of Masaya’s volcanic activity and its related hazards is critical.”

Masaya is an unusually complicated volcanic system, featuring craters within craters as well as sinkholes created when underground magma chambers emptied.

That unusual structure means scientists still have only a limited understanding of the tunnels and magma chambers hidden below the surface.

The lack of clarity makes it more difficult to interpret the small changes that could reveal whether an eruption is approaching—an important challenge for a popular tourist site so close to Managua.

“Although Masaya last produced a major lava flow in 1772, its persistent degassing often produces dangerously high concentrations of sulphur dioxide volcanic gas,” Ms Johnson said.

The volcano has also experienced a number of explosions during the past five decades. None has caused injuries so far, but scientists remain determined to monitor the volcano closely.

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For the study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the team analyzed observations collected by the Sentinel-1 satellite.

Sentinel-1 flies over Masaya every 12 days, allowing researchers to track subtle changes in the ground as magma shifts beneath the volcano.

Ms Johnson explained: “When it’s subsiding, that means that there’s probably magma draining away from the volcano—but once the ground starts uplifting again, that can mean that there’s potentially new magma moving in.”

From 2018 through the middle of 2022, satellite measurements showed that land around the Masaya Central Reservoir, north of Santiago crater, dropped by roughly 1.2 inches (3cm).

The sinking suggests that magma had drained from the reservoir beneath the surface, producing a process known as deflation.

However, from 2022 to 2024, the ground started to rise once more, suggesting that the reservoir was once again filling with magma.

Strangely, the area directly around the Santiago crater and its lava lake deflated over the whole six-year period.

According to the researchers, this may mean there is a second, shallow reservoir buried about 656ft (200m) below the surface that is also active.

‘This indicates that the plumbing system is more complex and could be due to decreasing magma in a second, shallower reservoir,’ adds Ms Johnson.

In the future, the researchers hope that more measurements like these will build up a better picture of the volcano’s behaviour and improve eruption forecasting.

Co-author Dr Young Cheol Kim, of Penn State University, says: ‘Doing continuous monitoring allows us to understand the baseline activity and identify if things are changing.

‘And then if there is a need to warn people, we can do that in a timely manner.’