Officials Detain Man in Case of Dead Baby Found in Tijuana Empty Lot

Tijuana Police have arrested a man who allegedly admitted to dumping his girlfriend's dead baby in an empty lot in Tijuana.

Luis Espinoza was arrested Monday morning in Tijuana, a source with Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de México (PGE) told NBC 7. Specific charges are unknown at this point.

Seven-month old Elliot Villalobos was found dead on Sept. 2 in the Lomas de la Presa neighborhood, about 12 miles south of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The baby’s mother, 20-year-old Jasmine Villalobos, led Chula Vista police to the body after officers found her living with her boyfriend, Espinoza in San Diego.

The FBI was involved in the investigation into the death of Elliot, a U.S. citizen.

Law enforcement officials in San Diego and in Tijuana believe the baby was killed in Mexico. But, the FBI was considering whether it can bring charges based on a federal statute that says a U.S. citizen cannot kill another U.S. citizen in foreign lands.

Villalobos’ relatives had reported her missing on August 31, concerned after they did not hear from her since the end of June.

According to authorities, Villalobos and Espinoza told officers that baby Elliot had suffered a fatal fall. They didn’t know what to do so they wrapped up the baby in blankets and left him in the empty lot in Tijuana.

Espinoza is the not the baby’s biological father.

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article reported incorrect information from investigators. We regret the error.

Contact Us