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4-Year-Old Believed Injured In Washer Found Dead, Father Jailed

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GARLAND, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A Garland man is in jail after police found his 4-year-old son dead on December 9.

According to reports, officers from the Garland Police Department and Garland Fire Department paramedics went to the home, in the 2400 block of Newcastle Drive, after Joseph Blocker called 911 and said his son was unconscious.

When first responders arrived they found the 4-year-old already dead. Blocker, 28, was subsequently arrested.

Detectives say a medical examiner found injuries on the boy that were consistent with being inside a washing machine. The family washing machine is front loading, which means someone must shut the door and push a button before it will start.

Garland police Officer Joe Harn asked questions investigators are now trying to answer. "How did he get there? How did he get the door closed?"

The boy's exact cause of death is under investigation.

Neighbor Yesenia Varela was there when Blocker was taken into custody. "He had no expression on his face," she said. "I don't know what to tell you. He had no expression."

Neighbor Luz Juarez was also there and said Blocker's hands appeared to be streaked with blood.

Police say Blocker and his other child, a 22-month-old girl, were at the home when he called 911. The little girl was not injured and is now with her mother. We're told the 4-year-old's mother was out of state when her son died.

According to public records, Blocker has previous arrests for driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana. He is now charged with capital murder and is being held on $500,000 bond.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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