20-year-old man arraigned in beating death of 2-month-old daughter
NASSAU COUNTY (WABC) -- A father accused of beating his 2-month-old daughter to death on Long Island pleaded not guilty to murder charges during a court arraignment on Thursday.
The 2-month-old girl, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios, was found with head injuries in a Maple Road home in Inwood on March 7.
Her 20-year-old father, Marlon Rabanales-Pretzantzin, was arrested and charged with her murder after officials say he punched, shook and dropped her.
First responders were initially told the baby became unconscious after rolling off the bed, but authorities say the 20-year-old later admitted to hitting her in the head and face and throwing her on the ground because he felt like he was not the father.
Police said he admitted he did "not respect or want the child."
"This defendant, tired of his 2-month-old daughter's crying, allegedly beat and shook her so violently that he caused severe hemorrhaging and dislocated the vertebrae in the child's neck, killing her," said DA Anne Donnelly. "Recognizing that his daughter was unresponsive after the attack, the defendant asked a neighbor to call emergency services and allegedly told police the child had rolled from his arms and accidently fell to the floor. Little Liseyda's injuries, however, told a different tragic and cruel story, and Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin will now be prosecuted and held accountable for his revolting violence."
A 1-year-old child was also taken from the home and evaluated.
It's not clear how long the baby was abused for but she was only a little over 2 months old. Liseyda was born at St. John's Episcopal Hospital just about 30 minutes into 2025, making her one of the first babies born in the new year.
There is no indication the mother, also 20, was involved in the beating.
Rabanales-Pretzantzin is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who crossed the border in El Paso, Texas, in 2022.
He was caught by immigration officials and released into the US to await his immigration hearing.
It's not clear how and why he ended up in Nassau County. Authorities say there will be an ICE detainer put on him and whether or not he's deported will be determined after his sentencing for his second-degree murder charge.
"He did share some things with me and I'm going to follow up on them, as I must. He's extremely young, he's 20 years old but obviously today we're very, very sorry for the loss of a child," his attorney said last month.
The defendant remains remanded and is due back in court on May 6. If convicted, Rabanales Pretzantzin faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
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