Jeronimo A. Duran : “Florida Dad Confessed to Murdering 2-Year-Old Daughter: Police”

Jeronimo A. Duran, 33, is facing charges of murder and child abuse in connection with the tragic death of his young daughter, Melody Alana Rose Duran.

Content warning: The following article contains disturbing descriptions.

A Florida father found himself behind bars after authorities alleged that he took the life of his own 2-year-old daughter.

Jeronimo A. Duran, 33, was arrested on May 28 and faces charges of murder and child abuse, according to online court records. He is currently being held without bond and has pleaded not guilty.

The arrest came after authorities were called to a residence around 9:42 a.m. on May 28 following a report of an injured child, as per a press release shared by the Pembroke Pines Police Department. Upon arrival, officers discovered the toddler bleeding profusely from her neck. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

An arrest report reviewed by PEOPLE sheds light on the events leading up to the tragic discovery. Duran had picked up his daughter from his ex-girlfriend’s residence earlier that morning and brought her to the home he shared with his grandmother. When his grandmother returned home around 9:30 a.m., she allegedly found Duran on top of the girl in the kitchen, facing each other. She intervened, prompting Duran to move away from the child. It was then that she noticed the severity of the situation and immediately called emergency services.

Upon reentering the kitchen, the grandmother witnessed Duran kneeling over the bleeding child. Overwhelmed by the sight, she retreated to her room, while Duran, covered in blood, remained in the kitchen without uttering a word.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the girl had a severe laceration across her throat. A kitchen knife stained with blood was recovered from the scene, alongside a floor drenched in blood.

Upon his arrest, Duran admitted to struggling with mental health issues and disclosed a history of involuntary commitments under the Baker Act. He confessed to ceasing his antidepressant medication two weeks prior and engaging in marijuana use, including on the day of the tragic incident.

According to court documents obtained by NBC Miami, the mother of Duran’s daughter had raised concerns about his behaviour, citing erratic and violent tendencies. Despite these warnings, a custody agreement permitted Duran unsupervised visits with his daughter.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Duran’s lawyer, David A. Frankel, acknowledged his client’s long-standing battle with mental illness and described the situation as a tragedy.

If you have any suspicions of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline operates 24/7 in over 170 languages and guarantees confidentiality.

Original article from People.