'I'm Speechless': Toddler's Father Says After Mom Goes On Stabbing Spree, Killing Child
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HOMESTEAD (CBSMiami) - A South Florida mother remains in jail Monday after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend and killing their 2-year-old son, before trying to take her own life.
The dead boy's father, Jesse Gonzalez, is at a loss to understand.
"I'm very speechless. I'm not sure what's going through her brain," Gonzalez told CBS4's Gary Nelson. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I can't even cry anymore," Gonzalez said.
According to the police report, the child's mother, Nathaly Ramos, started the stabbing spree at her boyfriend's home. He awoke Sunday morning in pain and found Ramos armed with a knife and a Taser. He said she chased him but he was able to lock himself in a room, and that is when he noticed he had been stabbed several times.
Ramos, 22, then left.
From there, police say, she drove to her mother's house in the 28200 block of SW 124th Place where her son Alphonse was staying with his grandmother. The grandmother had custody of the child but Ramos was allowed to visit.
When Ramos arrived at the home, she reportedly stabbed her son and then tried to take her own life by slitting her throat.
A relative stopped her and drove them to Homestead Hospital where the boy died.
As for the boy's father, Gonzalez said he didn't even know where his son was. He said Ramos left him and took their son eight months ago.
"I've been trying to get in touch with her for the longest time. She just has been ignoring me. I tell her, 'Where's Alphonse, where's Alphonse, let him come see me,' and her phone just goes straight to voicemail," he said.
He said he didn't know his son was with his grandmother, Yalerkys Ramos.
Ramos meanwhile is grieving, saying she is struggling with the suspected actions of her daughter.
"I would never accept what my daughter did because as a mother you can never hurt your kids. You can never hurt your kids but I still love my daughter," Ramos said.
Yalerkys told CBS4 a complicated tale, saying the Department of Children and Families gave Nathaly's brother some sort of custody over Alphonse but that DCF told the family they had to let Nathaly have unfettered visitation with the boy.
"DCF told us that anytime she wants to see the baby she was allowed to come in my house as long as she don't take the baby out," Ramos said.
Yalerkys says she called DCF on Saturday, the day before the murder, but received no response.
She says for some time she warned the agency of the possibility of a grave outcome.
"[They] tell you, 'Oh no, your daughter can come to your house anytime she wants,' even though you're telling those people that you feel that your grand baby is in danger because she's not right in her mind," Ramos said.
Yalerkys says DCF should've done more.
"If DCF would've listened to me, would've answered my phone calls, listened to my messages, my grand baby would be alive right now," she said.
CBS4 reached out to DCF for a comment Monday after learning of the family's criticisms. We did not hear back from an agency spokesperson.
In a statement, DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said, "We are horrified by this young boy's death and are grieving with the community and all those who love him. DCF has an open investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and will coordinate with law enforcement in any way we can. DCF will also conduct a thorough quality assurance review of all interactions this family had with the child welfare system."
The agency said Alphonse had been living with a relative, but did not specify what relative.
Late Monday night, DCF released a full statement on the matter:
"It is an absolute tragedy that a mother could possibly perpetrate this type of violence and murder her own child.
"Alphonse and his mother were involved in the early stages of an open child protective investigation and when the child was determined to be unsafe in the initial assessment, a plan was initiated, and Alphonse was placed with family so his uncle and grandmother could safely care for him during the investigative process.
"Placement with family minimizes trauma to the child and is done with the belief that family can keep the child safe while we continue to investigate and assess risk. The department is not a law enforcement agency and does not have legal authority to limit parents' access to their children.
"The department always acts in the best interest of the child and it is the responsibility of the family to work with the department to keep a child safe."
Ramos' boyfriend, Christopher Ikpe, is recovering from his stab wounds at Jackson South Community Hospital.
Ramos, who is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, was denied bond and taken to Turner Guilford Knight correctional center.