Man Charged in Death of Girlfriend's One-Year-Old Son

The boyfriend of a Hyattsville woman has been charged with causing the death of her one-year-old son while he was caring for the child.

The Prince George’s County Police Department on Tuesday arrested Melvin Edenilson Melendez, 21, of the 5600 block of 30th Avenue in Hyattsville. The victim is one-year-old Jason Perez.

Emergency crews were called to the home on 30th Avenue Dec. 10 for the report of an unresponsive child. Perez was rushed to a hospital, where he died on Dec. 12, according to police.

Investigators say the baby’s mother went to work and left her son in the care of Melendez; the couple are in a romantic relationship. A few hours later, Melendez called 911 to report the child had fallen out of bed and wasn’t breathing.

An autopsy showed the child’s injuries were not consistent with a fall and the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, authorities say. The medical examiner’s office ruled the boy’s death a homicide.

Melendez was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse resulting in death.

»Melvin Melendez of Hyattsville has been charged in the death of his girlfriend’s one-year-old son. Credit: PGCPD