Salt Lake County, Utah — A Utah couple has been arrested on suspicion of child abuse homicide after their 3-month-old son was found unresponsive at their home, according to police affidavits and court records cited by local news outlets. The arrests come nearly two years after the couple’s infant daughter died in October 2024.
Nicholas Patrick Romero, 40, and Christina Joy Patton, 39, were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday, October 7, according to reports. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding their son’s death, while the cause of their daughter’s earlier death remains undetermined.
The allegations outlined in the police affidavit have not been established in court, and the couple’s arrests do not constitute proof of guilt.
Police Responded After Infant Was Found Unresponsive
Authorities were called to the couple’s home on October 7 after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant, according to the affidavit cited by local outlets.
Responding officers reportedly observed “pink-colored fluid” coming from the baby’s nose and mouth. The affidavit also described multiple empty alcohol bottles near the area where the child had been sleeping, along with items officers believed could be drug paraphernalia inside the residence.
Despite life-saving efforts, the 3-month-old boy was pronounced dead.
Investigators are examining the circumstances leading up to the infant’s death, including the conditions in which he was sleeping and the events during the hours before emergency services were called.
Parents Described Events Before the Baby’s Death
According to the affidavit, Romero and Patton told officers they had consumed alcohol before going to sleep on Tuesday, October 6, with their son in bed with them.
Patton reportedly told investigators that the baby began crying at approximately 1:30 a.m. She said she removed him from a pillow, unwrapped his swaddle and placed him on her chest before both fell asleep, according to the documents cited by local television stations.
At approximately 5:15 a.m., Romero woke up for work and reportedly noticed that the baby was positioned toward Patton’s body.
When Romero attempted to wake the infant, he realized the child was unresponsive and called 911, according to the affidavit.
The documents also described officers’ observations and statements obtained during the investigation. Patton reportedly acknowledged taking her prescribed medication and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.011. Romero declined to take a preliminary breath test, according to the reports.
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Authorities have not established the precise cause of the infant’s death in the information provided by the cited outlets.
Couple’s Daughter Died in October 2024
The investigation has drawn additional attention because the couple’s daughter also died in October 2024.
The baby girl had experienced medical complications from birth, including a recessed jaw and cleft palate. Her condition required the use of a feeding tube, according to information in her obituary cited by the station.
The cause of the girl’s death has not been established, and that case remains pending separately. Court records cited in the reports do not indicate whether charges have been filed in connection with her death.
Investigators reportedly noted in the affidavit that the earlier loss should have made the parents more aware of the risks associated with unsafe infant sleeping practices.
However, the circumstances surrounding the two deaths remain separate matters, and the earlier case has not been established as evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Investigation Continues as Charges Remain Allegations
Romero and Patton were booked on suspicion of child abuse homicide. The allegations are part of an ongoing criminal investigation, and the couple is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case highlights the serious dangers associated with unsafe infant sleep environments. Health authorities generally recommend placing babies on their backs on a firm, flat sleep surface designed for infants, without pillows, loose bedding or other soft objects. Sharing a sleep surface with an adult can create additional risks, particularly when alcohol or medications that cause drowsiness are involved.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation may contact the appropriate local authorities.
The deaths of two infants within the same family, separated by nearly two years, have raised difficult questions that investigators are still working to answer. For now, the circumstances of the younger child’s death remain under investigation, while the earlier case remains unresolved.
What are your thoughts on this case and the importance of safe infant sleeping practices? Share your views respectfully in the comments.
