Father charged in death of 1-month-old boy found unresponsive at motel off I-10
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The father of a 1-month-old boy found dead at a west Houston motel on Tuesday has been charged and court records show he's accused of beating the baby because he was crying.
Jamal Edward Robertson, 33, is charged with injury to a child - serious bodily injury in the death of his son, Santana Robertson.
He also faces charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated assault of a family member, court documents show, from previous unrelated incidents. His bonds total more than $900,000.
Houston police were called to the Motel 6 located at 15101 Katy Freeway near Highway 6 around 3:30 p.m. and discovered the unresponsive infant.
The 1-month-old boy was taken to Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, where he was pronounced dead.
Thursday night, the baby's mother told ABC13 that Robertson hit their son multiple times on Tuesday because he was crying and then he shook him. She said she tried to intervene but Robertson was violent with her and she was afraid of him.
"Santana did not ask to come into this world. He's just a little baby. He was a good baby. He was a happy baby and this is what you do. You could have took it out on me, not him," the baby's mother, Alana Gabriel said.
She shared photos and a video of Santana's first days.
"I am a good mother," she said.
READ MORE: 1 in custody after infant found dead at motel off Katy Freeway in west Houston
Officers took at least one person, who turned out to be Robertson, into custody the day the baby died.
He was detained and subsequently charged following a preliminary investigation of the injuries found on the child, police said.
The cause of death of the baby is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
