New Rochelle Police Arrest Father In Death Of Son, 2
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The father of a 2-year-old boy who died Sunday has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the boy's death, New Rochelle Police announced Thursday.
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Richard Leak, 30, was arrested after Khalil Leak, 2, was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to Sound Shore Medical Center with a head injury on Jan. 9, police said.
According to authorities, the boy's mother, Kadya Ravizee, had taken Khalil's infant brother, Kaiden, to the same hospital on Saturday. While she was at the hospital, Leak reportedly called her from their home at 345 Main St. to say Khalil was also having trouble breathing, police said.
Ravizee then called a neighbor who performed CPR on Khalil and then called 911, according to police. Khalil was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at around 2 a.m.
"The evidence and information that we have leads us to believe that the child's father forcefully struck the child's head against a hard surface fracturing the child's skull and causing his death," New Rochelle Detective Capt. Joseph Schaller said.
The boy was removed from the home in 2009 after county officials said they cited evidence of child abuse -- including fractured ribs and a broken leg, Schaller said.
A Family Court judge returned Khalil to his parents 15 months later, saying the boy's injuries could have been related to a history of medical problems, including anemia and a bleeding disorder.
Leak has a prior criminal history for offenses including battery and assault, 1010 WINS' Kathleen Maloney reported.
