Rafael Antonio Carrion Jr., 29, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and abuse of a child. His sentence comes following being found guilty as charged of Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, and Aggravated Child Abuse following a four day trial in Lee County this August. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney and Special
Victim’s Unit Chief Francine Donnorummo.
The crime occurred in November 2016. The defendant had been babysitting the 8 month old victim and his two siblings for approximately a week at his home in Fort Myers. On Thanksgiving day Carrion called 911 for assistance because the victim was unresponsive. The infant was transported to the hospital where he later died as a result of inflicted blunt force trauma to the child’s skull which caused a fracture and other injuries. He also had significant bruising and abrasions to his face as well as cocaine in his blood stream. The defendant gave conflicting stories of how the child got the injuries but did not take responsibility for harming the child.
This case was a team effort by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office to complete the investigation to bring this case to trial.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org