WALLA WALLA — A 4-month-old Walla Walla boy died Tuesday, Aug. 27, one day after his father pleaded not guilty to his assault, police confirmed.
Ramiro Corona Ibarra, 31, of Walla Walla, who is accused of strangling the infant, pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault of a child Monday, Aug. 26, in Walla Walla County Superior Court.
The baby then died Tuesday morning.
A release from the Walla Walla Police Department said the department is informing the Walla Walla County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office of the infant’s death.
This will likely lead to updated charges against Corona, but as of Tuesday afternoon, no new charges had been filed, according to an online Washington courts portal.
Corona Ibarra was arrested Aug. 15, after the victim’s mother called 911 to report her son was not breathing, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When medics arrived, they found evidence the baby had been strangled, including bruising on the baby’s jaw and what appeared to be a fingernail mark on his neck, according to court documents.
The baby was transported to Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla before being taken by helicopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.
According to the probable cause affidavit, “Doctors treating (the victim) said he has serious life-threatening injuries and that if he survives, he will suffer from permanent disabilities.”
After an investigation, which included an interview with the suspect, police arrested Corona Ibarra.
According to court documents, police believe Corona strangled the baby on multiple occasions by squeezing his neck. Police also believe the baby was placed in his crib, face-down on a blanket before he was found not breathing.
Corona Ibarra is being held at Walla Walla County Jail. His bail is set at $500,000.
This amount was set before the victim died.
Corona Ibarra is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 12. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 14.
