2 kids recently killed in presence of caretakers in Polk County
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County has had three young children killed in the past few weeks, including two killed in the presence of their caretakers.
The first case involves an infant the sheriff’s office said was brutally beaten and shaken to death in Bartow. The Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged her own father, Jacob Kubai.
‘Horrific’: Polk County community shocked after 4-month-old beat to death
On Monday, the Lakeland Police Department said a man was charged in the death of his girlfriend’s almost 2-year-old son.
Both men charged in the deaths of the small children are in their early 20s, had no criminal history and both of the children’s mothers were at work.
Bobby Curry Jr. is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
‘Unfathomable’: Lakeland man charged with killing girlfriend’s toddler, police say
Lakeland Police said on March 5, Curry was watching his girlfriend’s son, Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur.
“The findings of the physicians, as well with the Child Protection Team at the Tampa General Hospital were that the injuries to Ezekiel were consistent with physical abuse,” Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said.
Ezekiel died three days later at the hospital.
This case is eerily similar to a case that happened in February, where Jacob Kubai was arrested and charged with the death of his infant daughter.
“The baby was literally beaten to death and the only person that was home at that time was Jacob,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Both men had dropped the children’s mothers off at work when the incidents happened.
“It’s the most awful thing that can happen, I really feel for these two moms to have lost their kids in such a horrific way, and I feel for the entire family,” said Mindy Murphy, president and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay.
The Spring of Tampa Bay is a domestic violence center that has programs and resources for children too.
“You really need to understand who is watching your kids and their capacity to remain calm,” Murphy said.
There are parent helplines, and you can call 211 for help or resources.
“It’s really, really hard to parent young kids, because especially when they’re preverbal, they can’t tell you what’s going wrong, and so you’ve got to have patience,” Murphy said.
These resources that are available can mean the difference between life and death.
In both children’s deaths, law enforcement said what the caretaker said happened and what the autopsies showed, did not line up.
Resources available to parents of young children:
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
