A Florida mother has surrendered to authorities after investigators say her boyfriend brutally beat her nonverbal 6-year-old son with autism, leaving the child in cardiac arrest and fighting for his life.
Cynthia Elaine Hernandez, 32, turned herself in to police on Friday, January 23, roughly two weeks after her son Mason was found unresponsive inside a North Miami Beach home, according to NBC Miami.
Police were called to the home on January 9, where they found Mason with no detectable pulse. Officers immediately began CPR, eventually restoring his heartbeat before rushing him to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Although Mason survived, authorities say the injuries he suffered were devastating. According to NBC Miami, the child had internal brain bleeding, a fractured arm, bruising across his face and back, swelling on his head, and lacerations to his liver, kidney, and spleen.
Hernandez’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Eduardo Romero, was arrested two days later after allegedly giving police multiple conflicting explanations about how the boy was hurt. Arrest records cited by NBC Miami say Romero first claimed Mason was injured while learning to ride a bicycle, but investigators say he could not produce a bike. Authorities also said Hernandez initially backed up that story but later admitted Romero told her to say it.
Romero is not Mason’s biological father, Hernandez told investigators.
Police records indicate Romero later claimed Mason had fallen and hit his head on a television, and then changed his story again, blaming additional injuries on the child running indoors while wearing socks. Hernandez told investigators that after briefly leaving the home and returning, she discovered Mason had suffered even more injuries.
The following day, Mason’s condition worsened when his lips began turning blue. Hernandez told police she instructed Romero to call 911.
According to investigators, Hernandez later admitted she believed Romero was responsible for her son’s injuries. She told authorities he frequently became frustrated with Mason due to behaviors related to his autism and also showed anger when their 5-month-old baby cried.
The couple has had an on-and-off relationship since 2023 and share two children together, according to NBC Miami. Hernandez also told investigators Romero had a short temper, ongoing anger issues, and a history of domestic violence. Records show Romero has two prior domestic violence convictions.
Both Hernandez and Romero are now being held at the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.
Hernandez is being held on a $10,500 bond and has been charged with child abuse, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and providing false information to law enforcement, according to jail records.
Romero remains jailed without bond and faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and providing false information to police.
Following Hernandez’s surrender, her attorney, Hugo Apellaniz, issued a statement defending her and criticizing the investigation.
“We are extremely disappointed that the North Miami Beach Police Department has decided to arrest and press charges against a mother who is nothing more than a victim,” Apellaniz said, calling the arrest a “dire mistake.”
“The police are aware that our client is also a victim at the hands of Daniel Romero, as unfortunately her son was as well,” he added. “The focus is on her son’s health and recovery, and we look forward to her being vindicated.”
Mason remains under medical care.
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