LAKELAND, FL (March 18, 2024) – On the afternoon of Friday, March 15, 2024, an arrest warrant was obtained for Bobby Curry Jr., charging him with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse in the death of a 23-month-old child, stemming from an incident that took place on March 5, 2024.
On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 5:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Kansas Avenue for a report of an unresponsive child. Officers arrived to find 23-month-old Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur at the residence without a pulse. Officers performed CPR on Ezekiel until Lakeland Fire Department arrived to provide medical assistance. The adult present with Ezekiel at that time was Bobby Curry Jr. (age 20), boyfriend of Ezekiel’s mother. Ezekiel was transported first to Lakeland Regional Health, then to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, Ezekiel succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at Tampa General Hospital on March 8, 2024, at 5:03 p.m.
Detectives who responded to assume the investigation learned from Curry that an accident occurred sometime between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Curry said he gave Ezekiel a bath and while getting him out of the bath, the family’s puppy leaped onto Ezekiel causing Ezekiel to first hit the back of his head on the bathtub and then the floor mat. Curry said Ezekiel tensed up after the fall, but he was still breathing. Curry stated that he placed the victim in his bed so he could rest. He said at that time Ezekiel was slightly breathing. But Curry did not call 911.
Curry said he put Ezekiel on his bed to rest and when he returned around 3:13 p.m., Ezekiel was not breathing. Curry put Ezekiel back on the bathroom floor, gave him chest compressions and some air. Ezekiel then began taking breaths as if he was gasping. Curry still did not call 911. Curry messaged Ezekiel’s mother during that time, letting her know Ezekiel has severe physical difficulties.
Between 4:53 p.m. and 5:24 p.m. Curry and Ezekiel’s mother messaged each other further. Curry conveyed grim details to her about Ezekiel’s grave condition. At 5:24 p.m.Ezekiel’s mother told Curry to call 911 and that was when he finally did.
Detectives conferred with physicians at Lakeland Regional Health who advised Ezekiel was without oxygen for at least 45 minutes. The findings of physicians in the Child Protection Team at Tampa General Hospital indicated the injuries to Ezekiel were consistent with physical abuse. On March 11th, 2024, the Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and determined the cause of Ezekiel’s death was not consistent with Curry’s account of injuries sustained by an accidental fall but was blunt force trauma and manner of death was Homicide.
As mentioned previously, an arrest warrant was obtained for Curry, charging him with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse. Curry was apprehended on the warrant, Friday, March 15th, 2024, at 7:07 p.m.
