A Washington, D.C. man was convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court of first-degree child abuse resulting in death and second-degree murder for the abuse and death of his girlfriend’s 16-month-old son, with sentencing scheduled for June 13, 2025, where he faces life in prison plus 65 years.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, defendant Marlon Melendez, 30, of Washington D.C. was convicted by a jury on charges of first-degree child abuse resulting in death, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse and second-degree child abuse for the abuse and death of his girlfriend’s son, a 16-month-old toddler. The jury returned its verdict yesterday, Thursday February 6, 2025.1
The defendant faces the potential of a life in prison plus 65 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.
On Saturday, March 11, 2023, the victim’s mother called 911 because the child was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital and an autopsy revealed signs of child abuse. An investigation by detectives with Montgomery County Police revealed the defendant had been abusing the child. The victim had previously sustained serious bodily injuries including a fractured femur. Surveillance video recorded on March 9, 2023, from a restaurant located in the 8000 block of Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, showed the defendant pull the victim’s hair and repeatedly scratch and dig into the victim’s temple. The defendant squeezed a lemon in the child’s face and put lemon juice on his finger, then rubbed his finger into the child’s eye. This activity occurred when the child’s mother had briefly left their dining table. The victim appeared to cry and be in distress every time Melendez touched him.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniela Chavez and Adrienne Ferrell are prosecuting this matter.
“This is an outrageously sad case involving the loss of a one-year-old baby. We express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family. We are thankful to Montgomery County Police for their thorough investigation and to our prosecution team for their pursuit of justice on behalf of this innocent child,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.”
