Family members and paramedics desperately tried to save a 2-year-old Florida girl whose throat was allegedly slashed by her father during a court-approved visit last week.
Jeronimo Duran, 33, picked up his daughter, Melody Alana Rose Duran, from his ex-girlfriend’s house early Tuesday and brought her to the home he shares with his grandmother, according to an arrest report.
The grandmother arrived home around 9:30 a.m. and walked in on a horrific scene in the kitchen.
Duran was allegedly lying face-to-face on top of the girl, who appeared blue and discolored, according to the arrest report from the Pembroke Pines Police Department.
“Get off,” his grandmother yelled in Spanish, according to detectives. “What are you doing?”
She called 911 and ran to her room, while Duran allegedly “stayed in the kitchen and did not make any comments, staying silent,” according to the police report.
Screaming could be heard in the background during the 911 call. Melody’s great-grandmother repeatedly yelled, “Dios mío,” Spanish for “My God.”
Duran’s stepfather arrived on the scene soon after and tried to give the young victim CPR, administering chest compressions until paramedics arrived.
Sergio Cabañas, Duran’s next-door neighbor and a family law attorney, shared footage of the dramatic response captured on his surveillance camera with NBC 6.
Cabañas said he hoped the video would raise awareness about domestic violence.
Cries could be heard ringing out from the house, and the toddler was eventually seen on a stretcher being transported into an ambulance.
Melody was pronounced dead at Memorial Regional Hospital just before 10:30 a.m. Detectives there observed a “large laceration” across her neck, according to the documents filed in the Broward County clerk’s office.
A bloodied steak knife was later found on the kitchen floor, and Duran was covered in what appeared to be blood, according to police.
He was arrested and during an interview told detectives he was on medication for depression and had smoked marijuana that day. He also said he was previously hospitalized for mental health issues.
Duran told investigators he choked his daughter unconscious and sliced her throat after his grandmother began to call for help.
He told investigators he “f–ked up” and “ruined his family,” according to the report.
“It’s a very tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family of the victim and at this time we’re just focusing on being able to provide justice to her family,” Pembroke Pines Police Department Sgt. Jason Palant said at a press conference Wednesday.
First responders who tried to save the girl’s life were receiving counseling after the incident, he added.
A judge ordered Duran to be held without bail on Thursday on first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
He was seen in court wearing shackles and a protective vest to prevent inmates from harming themselves, NBC 6 reported, and stayed silent during the hearing.
Duran and Melody’s mother, Mona Rosita Clarke, were together for about 10 years before they separated last year and a custody battle over the girl began, the Daily Mail reported.
Clarke filed for full custody of Melody, detailing Duran’s struggle with mental illness, alleging that he was paranoid, heard voices, had anger issues and used illicit drugs.
She claimed he was violent and aggressive toward her and Melody and even punched a family dog in the face, the outlet reported.
Clarke requested Duran take a parenting course and have supervised visits but the court in March granted him unsupervised visits — one of which Melody was on Tuesday.
