PEMBROKE PINES, FL – Newly released video footage reveals the urgent scene outside a Pembroke Pines residence this week, where a toddler was horrifically killed, allegedly by her father.
The accused, 33-year-old Jeromino Duran, is facing charges of first-degree murder in addition to aggravated child abuse. He received these charges in connection with the reported slaying of his two-year-old daughter Melody. Police found the severely battered body of Melody in their residence on the 400 block of Southwest 177th Avenue on Tuesday morning.
Footage provided by Duran’s neighboring resident, legal professional Sergio Cabañas, captures Duran’s movements before and after the alleged crime, as well as the frantic response from emergency personnel and family who rushed to the horrifying scene. The aim of feeding the video into the public domain is to raise awareness about the harsh reality of domestic violence, according to Cabañas.
Heart-wrenching distress calls from the residence could be heard as paramedics fought to keep Melody alive. The footage also shows first responders, visibly tense, hurrying her off in an ambulance.
Timestamps on the videos indicate that Duran left home at 7:08 a.m. before returning shortly after, presumably having fetched Melody from her mother’s place. Police disclose that a gray SUV, driven by Duran’s grandmother Hilda Carballo, arrived at approximately 9:32 a.m. Carballo is reported to have discovered Duran atop a nonresponsive Melody, which prompted her call to the emergency hotline.
At 9:44 a.m., a black Mercedes screeched into the driveway, from which a frantic Jorge Carballo emerged. Policemen attest that he performed CPR on Melody until paramedics arrived within the next few minutes.
Pembroke Pines police state that the child suffered a range of severe injuries, including a knife-inflicted wound to the throat. She was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. On Thursday morning, a hearing was held during which Duran was instructed to remain in custody without bond.
Prosecutor Eric Linder emphasized the severity of Duran’s alleged actions, stating that, due to the nature of the violence outlined and the strength of the evidence, Duran deserved a substantial bail of “$500,000.” However, the judge overruled this and ordered Duran to be detained without bond.
Court documents reveal that Melody’s mother had expressed concerns over Duran’s volatile and threatening behavior. Regardless, an agreement for shared custody of Melody was entered into. The investigation continues as officials expect the medical examiner’s findings to establish a conclusive cause of death.