On June 2, 29-year-old Izzac Murillo of California was given a sentence of 54 years to life for the assault and murder of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son that occurred on July 24, 2015.
The Porterville Police Department had responded to a call about an unconscious toddler beaten severely. A statement released by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office describes the severity of the abuse. It stated that “Doctors compared the totality of injuries as “similar to what would be seen in a car collision victim whose abdomen had impacted the steering wheel violently.”
The child was brought to a hospital with bruises on the head, face, and chin, along with abrasions on his lips and gums. He had severe internal bleeding from lacerations and ‘complete severing of the bowel.’ The toddler had swelling and bruising on his genitals.
Upon questioning, Murillo denied responsibility for his actions. Investigators retrieved rope and brass knuckles from inside Murillo’s bedroom.
Adriana Vasquez, the 2-year-old’s mother, was a methamphetamine user and had two other children exposed to Murillo’s violence. She was charged with child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death and an additional two counts of child abuse, leading to an eight-year prison sentence in May 2018.
The 54-year prison sentence for Izzac Murillo serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting children from abuse and reinforces the consequences of violence. Unfortunately, a young life was taken too soon, and the family’s pain will remain for an eternity.