Pasco Man Held In Death Of Girlfriend’s Infant Child

A Pasco man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter, police said.

Francisco Gonzales, 22, may be charged with second-degree murder, according to police. He is being held in the Franklin County Jail.

Peggy Rodriguez, the child’s mother, lives with Gonzalez.

Mercedes Rodriguez died at Spokane’s Deaconess Medical Center on Saturday after being transported from Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Pasco.

According to police, the infant suffered multiple injuries to her head and upper body Nov. 11 inside her 224 N. Ninth Ave. home.

Police said Rodriguez was arrested due to inconsistencies in his account of how the child was injured.