Mom Covered for Boyfriend who Beat Infant Girl for Over a Month, Leading to Death: Cops

A Pennsylvania woman and her boyfriend have been arrested and charged in the death of her 4-month-old daughter, after police allege that the baby’s injuries were a result of severe abuse, not an accidental fall as initially claimed. The tragic incident occurred on March 28, when 4-month-old Ioni Souders was found unresponsive in cardiac arrest at an apartment in Susquehanna Township, outside Harrisburg. Despite attempts to revive her, the infant was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Initial Claim of a Fall and Contradictory Evidence

According to a police report, Layla Souders, the baby’s mother, initially told investigators that she had dropped Ioni on her head several days before the infant’s death. Souders suggested this could explain the injuries the baby had sustained. However, upon closer examination, police discovered that the baby had suffered far more severe and extensive injuries than a simple fall could account for. These included a compound fracture of the right femur, broken ribs, a skull fracture, and traumatic damage to the baby’s brain, neck, and chest. The injuries appeared to have occurred at different times, as some were in various stages of healing, indicating the abuse had been ongoing.

Abuse Confession and Disdain for the Baby

As the investigation progressed, Souders admitted to fabricating the story about dropping her daughter. She revealed that her boyfriend, Jose Melendez Padilla, 24, had been abusing the baby since late February. According to Souders, she had avoided taking Ioni to medical checkups to conceal the extent of her injuries. Further evidence came from Melendez Padilla’s own admission and text messages, which exposed his deep resentment toward the baby. He reportedly expressed in texts that he hated Ioni, calling her life “not ours” and stating that he could not love her. He even suggested to Souders that they put the baby up for adoption, and mentioned he hated seeing her every day.

Severe Abuse and Failure to Seek Help

Melendez Padilla allegedly took his frustration out on the baby, admitting to hitting Ioni in March, which caused her to lose consciousness and require CPR. Just days before the infant’s death, Melendez Padilla also noticed an injury to the baby’s leg, later identified as a broken femur. Despite the severity of the injuries, neither Souders nor Melendez Padilla sought medical attention for the baby. Instead, Melendez Padilla reportedly researched home remedies for the baby’s injuries online, using Google and TikTok to try to find ways to treat her without alerting authorities. On the day of the infant’s death, Souders reportedly left Ioni alone with Melendez Padilla, despite knowing the extent of the abuse the baby had endured.

Charges and Arrests

Souders, 20, has been charged with third-degree murder, child endangerment, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence. Melendez Padilla faces first-degree murder charges along with the same child abuse and evidence tampering charges. Both suspects are being held without bond in the Dauphin County Prison and are scheduled to appear in court.

In a further twist, investigators discovered that Melendez Padilla was an undocumented immigrant. He entered the United States illegally in May 2024 and was supposed to leave in August 2024, but he remained in the country, allegedly using illegal identification documents. He now faces additional charges related to his immigration status. This heartbreaking case highlights the severe consequences of child abuse and neglect, and the importance of ensuring children receive the care and protection they need.