A 21-year-old man in Lakewood last month and then stuffing his body in a plastic bin explained to his mother that he “was told do it,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Family members of Roman Paulisaiah Morales told police he had been acting strangely in the weeks leading up to the killing. Specifically, they said, “he was paranoid” and thought “the mob and the FBI were following him,” the affidavit says.
“He (had) been talking about hearing Morse code, described as beeps and clicks,” a family member told police.
Morales is being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree murder in the case. He appeared in court Monday morning where a preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 11.
Arrest documents in the case were sealed until Morales’ Monday court appearance.
The toddler, Donnie Romero, at an apartment in the 2500 block of South Sheridan Boulevard. Officers initially responded to the scene on a report that Donnie was missing.
An officer, while searching for the boy, found Donnie unresponsive inside a bin in the apartment . The officer said the boy had a black cord wrapped multiple times around his neck.
Donnie was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Jefferson County records show Morales had been held jailed on a felony charge until Sept. 12 when he was released after posting a $1,000 bond surety.
Morales is also serving a two-year probation sentence after a Nov. 10, 2014, conviction on a misdemeanor drug charge.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
