A 26-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday on charges of murdering his girlfriend's year-old son last year in Santa Ana.
Eduardo Centeno was arrested Monday by Riverside police on murder and child assault causing death charges filed last week in Orange County, according to court records, which also show he has a pending misdemeanor vandalism charge.
Centeno is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, and it's unclear when he will be arraigned in the murder case.
Police arrested Centeno on Feb. 12, 2018, after they were sent to the Royal Roman Motel at 1504 E. First St. about 8 a.m. on a report of a child who was not breathing, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
The baby, who had been left in Centeno's care by the mother, was taken to a hospital and placed on life support, Bertagna said. The child died the following day.
The victim's name was not listed on the criminal complaint against Centeno, and Bertagna and coroner's officials were not able to immediately track it down. Centeno was not the child's father, according to Santa Ana police.
When Centeno was arrested, Bertagna said the initial investigation indicated child neglect and abuse. Prosecutors declined to file charges at the time, he said.
