Judge declares mistrial in case of man accused of killing toddler

from orlandosentinel.com:

"A Seminole judge declared a mistrial early Saturday in the case of a man who is charged with killing his girlfriend's son.

A jury deliberated for seven hours Friday night and Saturday morning until reporting about 3 a.m. that they were deadlocked in the case of Jason Lenz, who had been charged with felony murder and aggravated child abuse. Circuit judge Debra S. Nelson declared a mistrial.

Defense attorney Richard Hornsby argued that the death of Anthony Jesy "A.J." Cabral, 2, was an accident. Lenz told Seminole deputies that he was carrying Anthony when he tripped and dropped the boy, cracking the boy's skull.

The boy's mother, Elma "Tracey" Goldrine, was at work when the boy was injured. She did not check on the boy when she returned home. She found him dead in his crib between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the next morning, Jan. 25.

Lenz, 35, is to be tried again as early as next month. He faces a lifetime sentence in prison."

Woman's Car Repossessed with Toddler Inside

from foxnews.com:

"

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Police in California say a car dealer who repossessed a San Jose woman's Honda Accord left with something a bit more valuable: her 2-year-old son.

The child, Cyrus Lopez, was sleeping in the back of the car on Tuesday night when it was taken away because the boy's mother, Isabel Leuvano, was behind on her payments.

Leuvano says she was waiting for her daughter outside the running car when someone jumped in and drove off.

Police say the driver was 47-year-old Alberto Luna, the owner of Alberto's Auto Sales.

Officers located the toddler a half-hour later — about the same time Luna told authorities that he discovered the boy.

Sgt. Ronnie Lopez says kidnapping charges don't appear to be warranted. But he says Luna should have checked the car thoroughly."

Rottweiler kills toddler at party

from floridatoday.com:
"NEW PORT RICHEY — Authorities say a Rottweiler attacked and killed a Florida toddler when the boy reached to pick up a cookie he had dropped.

Kevin Doll of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says 20-month-old Dallas Walters was at his aunt’s home during a party Saturday night. Doll says the dog attacked Dallas when the boy dropped a cookie and went to grab it.

Family members at the party managed to pry the dog off the child and then took him to a hospital.The boy later died.

Animal control has taken possession of the dog.

Doll said today that the incident is still under investigation, but appeared to be a “tragic accident.”