DC Man Found Guilty Of Killing, Abusing Girlfriend's Toddler: Report

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A Washington, D.C. man was convicted this week of abusing and killing his girlfriend's 16-month-old child in 2023, according to a report citing the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.

Marlon Melendez, 30, was found guilty of first-degree child abuse resulting in death, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse and second-degree child abuse in connection with the boy's death, according to a WTOP report. A jury delivered the verdict on Thursday.

On March 11, 2023, police officers and members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to the 7900 block of Chicago Avenue in Silver Spring after receiving a report of a child not breathing.

Zavier Giron was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Investigators interviewed Giron's mother, who told them her son hadn't been feeling well. When she woke up and discovered he was not breathing, police said she called 911.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Giron and found signs of child abuse.

According to WTOP, Melendez “pulled the victim’s hair and repeatedly scratched and dug into the victim’s temple” after the boy’s mother briefly left the table while they were dining at a Silver Spring restaurant.

Melendez then “squeezed a lemon in the child’s face and put lemon juice on his finger, then rubbed his finger into the child’s eye,” according to the report.

Melendez is scheduled for sentencing on June 13. He faces a maximum of 65 years in prison.