Parents Charged In Beating Of Infant

The parents of a 6-month-old boy who suffered skull fractures and several broken bones have been charged with abusing him.

Laura Miramontes-Zarazua, 21, was charged Thursday with firstdegree child assault and two counts of second-degree child mistreatment.

Amouri Gaitan-Cortez, the 29-year-old father, was charged with two counts of second-degree mistreatment.

Snohomish County authorities allege the baby, Brian Gaitan, was the victim of “ongoing violent abuse.”

Authorities said the mother had taken her son Sunday to Stevens Hospital in Edmonds and explained his multiple injuries by saying she had fallen five days earlier while holding the child in her arms.

A team at Children’s Hospital in Seattle later examined Brian and found two skull fractures, at least two left-arm fractures, four broken ribs and a left-leg fracture.

Doctors concluded the fractures were “most likely purposefully inflicted,” deputy prosecutor Paul Stern said in court documents.

When admitted Sunday to Children’s Hospital, the boy weighed 10 pounds, and doctors said he showed signs of malnourishment. Brian was in satisfactory condition and was expected to remain hospitalized through the weekend, Forbes said.