Man Faces Sentencing for Infant Murder

NORWALK (CNS) - Sentencing is scheduled today for a South Gate man whobeat his 9-month-old daughter to death. Jose Tulio Deras, 21, is facing 50 years to life in state prison when he appears before Norwalk Superior Court Judge Philip H. Hickok.

   Jurors deliberated about 10 minutes before convicting Deras of second- degree murder and assault on a child causing death in connection with the Jan. 15, 2011, slaying of his daughter, Valerie, who died from multiple blunt force injuries.

   The infant was punched numerous times in the chest and hit with a sneaker in the back of the head after crying, according to Deputy District Attorney Heba Matta. Deras was also convicted of sodomy by use of force on his wife, who returned home after the baby had already died, the prosecutor said.

The couple got into an argument, and Deras tied the woman up and sexually assaulted her, according to the prosecutor.Deras eventually returned to a car, where he had hidden the baby, and retrieved the infant's body from the vehicle.

His wife persuaded him to untie her and to attempt CPR on the baby, and she fled to a nearby auto body shop, where a 911 call was made, the prosecutor said.

   Deras, a Salvadoran national, fled to Mexico and was turned over to U.S. authorities four days later.