The parents of 3-month-old Sanai Deleon-Pitts have been charged with 1st Degree murder in the death of their infant son, the Denver District Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon.
An autopsy report released today concluded Sanai died of died of “complications of thermal and blunt force injuries from non-accidental trauma,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Calvin Pitts, 28, and Amanda Deleon, 21, previously faced felony child abuse charges for a litany of burns, fractures and abrasions medical staff discovered while trying to resuscitate the boy, who died June 11.
Among those injuries were 2nd or 3rd Degree burns on the child’s leg.
Pitts told police that he microwaved a wet washcloth for two minutes and applied it to Sanai’s leg, which medical staff discovered had been fractured, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Denver District Court.
A burn on the sole of Sanai’s right foot happened when Pitts fell asleep smoking a marijuana cigarette with the baby on his lap, according to the affidavit.
The couple couldn’t explain other injuries: an abrasion under Sanai’s chin, tears inside and around his ears, a wrist fracture, a possible dislocated shoulder and a possible skull fracture.
“Ms. Deleon claimed she had never seen (Pitts) strike the victim. Ms. Deleon did confirm that (Pitts) punched a hole in her bedroom door after getting frustrated by the victim’s crying,” Denver Det. Ken Klaus wrote in the affidavit.
The felony child abuse charges have been dropped and Pitts, who remained free on bond, has been taken into custody.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
