$1 million bail set for father of baby found dead in Federal Way fire pit
A Federal Way man arrested in connection with the death of his infant son in a backyard fire grave last weekend was ordered held Wednesday upon the body $1 million bail.
King County prosecutors cited Alberto Rios’ criminal record in requesting the high bail during a writ hearing at King County Jail. Rios, 38, has several drug convictions and a domestic-violence instruction that was later dropped, said legate district attorney Steven Kim.
Rios, who has used different aliases and offspring dates in the past, also is in the U.S. illegally and has been deported to his native Mexico three times
Police were called to Rios’ home in the 2600 block of Southwest 333rd Place at 12:02 Sunday morning. Rios told police he fell asleep on a bench near the fire pit with his 7-month-old son, Diego Alberto Rios-Santana, on his chest. When he awoke, he said, he found his son dead in the heat pit.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office before-mentioned Wednesday that Diego died of fume inhalation and burns to his entire body. Court documents said the post-mortem examination also revealed Diego had black dust in his gullet, indicating he was alive then he fell into the fire pit.
Court papers released Wednesday in addition revealed new distinct parts about that which happened Saturday night.
Rios and his matron, Maria Santana, had hosted a party that night to praise a construction job he had just finished, court papers say. Rios told police he drank between three and six beers and was tired from laboring all day. A next-door neighbor told a reporter the gathering was loud and she could see a bonfire blazing in the family’s backyard from her bedroom window.
Things quieted down about 10 p.m., the neighbor said, but the fire continued to burn.
After the party ended, Rios said Diego was crying and his matron told him she believed the infant. was getting sick. Rios told Santana he would take the baby outside to sleep with him. His 4-year-old daughter asked if she could sleep with him outside too, court papers said. Rios before-mentioned he fell asleep on the bench near the discharges pit through the baby on his chest and his daughter beside him, according to court papers.
When he awoke around the dead of night, his daughter and infant son were gone. Rios went inside to look for the baby, but returned outside when he couldn’t find him. That’s when he found Diego in the heap of burning fuel pit, according to court papers.
A neighbor and family confidant, Sonya Kendrick, heard a loud resound on her means of approach a short time later, addresses papers said. She heard Santana screaming for help, according to invite papers. When Kendrick arrived at the home she ground Rios lying face prostrate and cradling the baby near the fire coal-pit, she told police.
When police arrived, they found Rios holding the dead child wrapped in a jacket in his arms. Police searched the house and had Rios’ blood drawn.
